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Uimhir 7 de 1965.
AN tACHT UM MIANAIGH AGUS CAIRÉIL, 1965
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
ACHT DO DHÉANAMH COMHDHLÚTHÚ, MAILLE LE LEASUITHE, AR ACHTACHÁIN A BHAINEANN LE MIANAIGH AGUS CAIREIL. [11 Bealtaine, 1965.]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Gearrtheideal.
1.—Féadfar an tAcht um Mianaigh agus Cairéil, 1965, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Tosach feidhme.
2.—Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá nó laethanta a shocrófar chuige sin le hordú nó le horduithe ón Aire go ginearálta nó faoi threoir aon chríche nó aon fhorála áirithe agus féadfar laethanta éagsúla a shocrú amhlaidh chun críocha éagsúla agus forálacha éagsúla den Acht seo.
An bhrí atá le “mianach” agus le “cairéal”.
3.—(1) San Acht seo ciallaíonn “mianach” tochailt nó córas tochailtí a dhéantar chun, nó i ndáil le, mianraí (cibé acu ina staid nádúrtha nó ar tuaslagadh nó ar fuaidreamh dóibh) nó táirgí ó mhianraí a fháil, go hiomlán nó go substaintiúil, ar dhóigheanna inar gá daoine a fhostú faoi thalamh.
(2) San Acht seo, ciallaíonn “cairéal” tochailt nó córas tochailtí a dhéantar chun, nó i ndáil le, mianraí (cibé acu ina staid nádúrtha nó ar tuaslagadh nó ar fuaidreamh dóibh) nó táirgí ó mhianraí a fháil, nuair nach mianach atá ann ná nach é amháin atá ann tobar nó poll tóraíochta nó tobar agus poll tóraíochta i dteannta a chéile.
(3) Folaíonn “mianach” agus “cairéal”, faoi seach, aon áit ar an dromchla atá thart timpeall, nó de chóir, shloic an mhianaigh nó an chairéil agus é ar áitiú, maraon leis an mianach nó an cairéal, chun na mianraí a stóráil nó a aistriú nó chun críocha próisis a fho-ghabhann le mianraí a fháil, lena n-áirítear na mianraí sin a bhriseadh, a mhionbhrú, a mheilt, a chriathrú, a ní nó a chóiriú ach, faoina réir sin, ní fholaíonn siad aon áit ina ndéantar aon phróiseas monaraíochta.
(4) Chun críocha an Achta seo, is cuid de mhianach nó de chairéal aon áit atá ar áitiú ag úinéir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil agus a úsáidtear chun dramh uaidh a leagan ann, ach aon áit a úsáidtear amhlaidh i ndáil le dhá mhianach nó cairéal nó níos mó, agus atá ar áitiú ag úinéir aon cheann amháin acu, nó ag úinéirí aon dá cheann nó níos mó acu i gcoiteannas, measfar é a bheith ina chuid de cibé ceann de na mianaigh nó de na cairéil sin a threoróidh an tAire.
(5) Chun críocha an Achta seo, measfar gur cuid den mhianach nó den chairéal aon líne nó taobhlach (nach cuid d'iarnród é) atá ag freastal ar mhianach nó ar chairéal, ach, má fhreastalaíonn sé ar dhá cheann nó níos mó díobh, measfar é a bheith ina chuid de cibé ceann acu a threoróidh an tAire.
(6) Chun críocha an Achta seo, is cuid de mhianach nó de chairéal cóir iompair nó rópbhealach aerga a chuirfear ar fáil chun mianraí nó dramh a aistriú ón mianach nó ón gcairéal.
An bhrí atá le “úinéir”.
4.—(1) San Acht seo ciallaíonn “úinéir”, maidir le mianach nó cairéal, an duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire i dteideal é a oibriú.
(2) I gcás ina mbeidh oibriú cairéil á dhéanamh go hiomlán ag conraitheoir thar ceann an duine atá i dteideal é a oibriú, glacfar leis, chun críocha an Achta seo, gurb é an conraitheoir úinéir an chairéil gan an duine sin a áireamh.
(3) I gcás ina mbeidh beirt duine nó níos mó i dteideal cairéal a oibriú go neamhspleách, glacfar leis, chun críocha an Achta seo, gur duine de na daoine sin arb é ceadúnóir na ndaoine eile é is úinéir ar an gcairéal gan an chuid eile a áireamh.
(4) I gcás gnó duine a mbeifear le glacadh leis, de bhua na bhforálacha roimhe seo, gurb é is úinéir ar mhianach nó cairéal, a bheith á sheoladh ag leachtaitheoir, glacadóir nó bainisteoir, nó ag duine éigin eile a bheidh údaraithe le hordú cúirte chun é a sheoladh, glacfar leis, chun críocha an Achta seo, gurb úinéir breise ar an mianach nó an cairéal an leachtaitheoir, an glacadóir, an bainisteoir nó an duine eile sin.
Léiriú i gcoitinne.
5.—(1) San Acht seo, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
folaíonn “díobháil choirp” díobháil don sláinte;
ciallaíonn “páiste” duine faoi bhun aois fhágála na scoile;
folaíonn “sárú”—
(a) maidir le foráil den Acht seo, d'ordú faoin Acht seo nó de rialacháin, nó
(b) maidir le treoir, toirmeasc, srian, nó ceanglas a thabharfar nó a fhorchuirfear le fógra arna sheirbheáil faoin Acht seo nó dá bhua ag cigire, nó
(c) maidir le coinníoll a ghabhann le díolúine, toiliú, ceadú nó údarás arna dheonú nó arna thabhairt faoin Acht seo nó dá bhua ag an Aire nó ag cigire,
faillí i gcomhlíonadh na forála, na treorach, an toirmisc, an tsriain, an cheanglais nó an choinníll, agus déanfar “sárú” a fhorléiriú dá réir sin;
folaíonn “gás” múch nó galán;
ciallaíonn “rialacháin ghinearálta” rialacháin seachas rialacháin nach mbaineann ach le mianach nó le cairéal áirithe;
ciallaíonn “gaireas róptharlaithe faoi oibriú imtharraingthe” gaireas róptharlaithe a oibrítear go hiomlán trí ghníomhú imtharraingthe ar fheithicil nó feithiclí atá ceangailte de rópa atá ina chuid den ghaireas;
ciallaíonn “gaireas tochrais faoi oibriú imtharraingthe” gaireas tochrais a oibrítear go hiomlán trí ghníomhú imtharraingthe ar chuid de ar a bhfuil ualach á iompar;
ciallaíonn “cigire” cigire arna cheapadh faoin Acht seo;
folaíonn “imeachtaí dlíthiúla” eadráin;
ciallaíonn “gaireas róptharlaithe faoi oibriú meicniúil” gaireas róptharlaithe a oibrítear le hinneall do-aistrithe;
ciallaíonn “gaireas tochrais faoi oibriú meicniúil” gaireas tochrais a oibrítear le hinneall do-aistrithe;
folaíonn “mianraí” clocha, slinn, cré, gairbhéal, gaineamh agus fosuithe nádúrtha eile ach amháin móin;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála;
ciallaíonn “fógra” fógra i scríbhinn;
ciallaíonn “tuismitheoir”, maidir le páiste nó ógánach, an té ag a bhfuil coimeád dlíthiúil an pháiste nó an ógánaigh agus más rud é, mar gheall ar an té sin a bheith as láthair nó ar chúis ar bith eile, nach bhfuil an páiste nó an t-ógánach in aontíos leis an té sin nó faoina choimeád iarbhír, folaíonn sé an té a bhfuil an páiste nó an t-ógánach in aontíos leis nó a bhfuil an páiste nó an t-ógánach faoina choimeád iarbhír;
ciallaíonn “tréimhse fostaíochta” an tréimhse (lena n-áirítear an t-am a cheadaítear le haghaidh béilí agus scíthe) ar laistigh de a fhéadfar duine a fhostú lá ar bith;
ciallaíonn “soilse ceadaithe”, maidir le mianach nó cuid de mhianach, lampaí sábhála glasáilte agus aon deis eile soilsiúcháin a n-údaraítear le rialacháin í a úsáid faoi thalamh i mianaigh go ginearálta, i mianaigh de chineál lena mbaineann an mianach sin, nó sa mhianach sin;
ciallaíonn an briathar “forordú” forordú le rialacháin;
ciallaíonn “iarnród” aon iarnród a úsáidtear le haghaidh tráchta phoiblí, cibé acu trácht paisinéirí, trácht earraí nó trácht eile é, agus folaíonn sé aon oibreacha de chuid an chomhlachta chorpraithe atá ag bainistí agus ag rialú an iarnróid arb oibreacha iad atá i gceangal leis an iarnród;
ciallaíonn “rialacháin” rialacháin arna ndéanamh ag an Aire;
ciallaíonn “duine freagrach”, maidir le mianach, an bainisteoir agus, maidir le cairéal, an t-úinéir;
folaíonn “bealach” cuid de bhealach ach ní fholaíonn sé easrais doshiúlta;
folaíonn “rópa” slabhra;
ciallaíonn “gaireas róptharlaithe” gaireas chun ualaí a iompar i bhfeithiclí atá ceangailte de rópaí;
folaíonn “áiseanna sláintíochta” múnlanna, leithris uisce, fiailtithe cré, poill luaithrigh, losáin agus aon áis dá samhail sin;
ciallaíonn “aois fhágála na scoile” an aois ag a scoireann an tAcht Freastal Scoile, 1926, d'fheidhm a bheith aige;
ciallaíonn “sloc” sloc a bhfuil a bharr ar an dromchla nó a mbeartaítear é a bheith ansin;
ciallaíonn “rialacháin speisialta” rialacháin nach mbaineann ach le mianach nó cairéal áirithe;
folaíonn “slocán” winze;
ciallaíonn “freagrachtaí reachtúla” freagrachtaí faoin Acht seo, faoi orduithe arna ndéanamh faoin Acht seo, agus faoi rialacháin;
ciallaíonn “rialacha tacaíochta” rialacha arna ndéanamh faoi alt 55 chun aon chríche de chríocha na n-alt a bhaineann le tacaíocht i mianaigh;
ciallaíonn “siúlán” fad de bhealach i mianach a úsáidtear chun siúl go dtí ionaid oibre nó uathu;
ciallaíonn “easrais doshiúlta” easrais nach féidir do dhaoine siúl suas ann ar a gcaothúlacht réasúnach toisc ardú róghéar a bheith inti nó in aon chuid di (cibé acu dá thoisc sin amháin é nó dá thoisc sin maille le tosca eile);
ciallaíonn “seachtain” an tréimhse idir meánoíche oíche Shathairn agus meánoíche an oíche Shathairn ina dhiaidh sin;
ciallaíonn “gaireas tochrais”, maidir le sloc mianaigh nó slocán, gaireas chun ualaí a ísliú agus a ardú tríd an sloc nó an slocán;
ciallaíonn “bean” bean nach lú ná ocht mbliana déag a haois;
ciallaíonn “ógánach” duine a bhfuil aois fhágála na scoile slánaithe aige ach atá faoi bhun ocht mbliana déag d'aois.
(2) Chun críocha an Achta seo, measfar oibreacháin mhianaigh a bhfuil comhchóras aeraithe acu, nó aon chuid de chóras aeraithe acu i gcoiteannas, a bheith ina gcuid den mhianach céanna.
(3) Chun críocha an Achta seo—
(a) measfar go bhfolaíonn oibriú mianaigh sloc nó easrais a tholladh don mhianach;
(b) measfar go bhfolaíonn oibriú cairéil an scraith uachtair a bhaint ann;
(c) measfar mianach nó cairéal a bheith á oibriú d'ainneoin nach bhfuil d'oibríochtaí ar siúl ann ach oibríochtaí d'fhonn an mianach nó an cairéal a thréigean nó chun uisce nó ábhar a shníonn nuair a bhíonn sé fliuch a chosc ar shní amach as agus isteach i mianach nó i gcairéal atá buailte leis, ach ní mheasfar é a bheith á oibriú de bhíthin amháin go bhfuil oibríochtaí caidéalaithe ar siúl ann chun uisce a sholáthar do dhuine ar bith.
(4) Aon tagairtí atá san Acht seo do lampaí sábhála a úsáid mar réamhchúram sealadach, déanfar, maidir le mianach, iad a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí d'úsáid ócáideach nó uaineach a bhaint as lampaí sábhála glasáilte ag oibrithe atá ar fostú faoi thalamh sa mhianach in áit ina bhféadfadh solas nocht bheith contúirteach, agus déanfar, maidir le cuid faoi thalamh de mhianach, iad a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí d'úsáid ócaideach nó uaineach a bhaint as lampaí sábhála glasáilte ag oibrithe atá ar fostú sa chuid sin in áit den sórt sin.
(5) Déanfar tagairtí san Acht seo d'aon achtachán a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don achtachán sin arna leasú le haon achtachán ina dhiaidh sin lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo.
Feidhm maidir leis an Stát.
6.—Baineann an tAcht seo le mianaigh agus cairéil is leis an Stát nó atá ar áitiú ag an Stát faoi mar a bhaineann sé le mianaigh agus cairéil i gcoitinne.
Caiteachais.
7.—Íocfar as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais é, na caiteachais faoina rachaidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo.
Rialacháin a leagan faoi bhráid Tithe an Oireachtais.
8.—Gach rialachán a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtais a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta, agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin, beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán.
Comhairle a ghlacadh leis an Aire Sláinte maidir le rialacháin sláinte.
9.—Ní dhéanfaidh an tAire rialacháin faoin Acht seo maidir le sláinte daoine a fhostaítear ach amháin tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Sláinte.
Aisghairm.
10.—Déantar leis seo na hAchtanna a luaitear sa Chéad Sceideal a aisghairm a mhéid a shonraítear sa tríú colún den Sceideal.
Ionstraimí agus cláir a fhanacht i bhfeidhm agus sealbhóirí oifige a choimeád in oifig.
11.—(1) Aon ordú, rialachán, riail, deimhniú, díolúine, toiliú, ceadú, cead, fógra nó údarás a rinneadh nó a tugadh faoi aon achtachán a aisghairtear leis an Acht seo agus a bhí i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, fanfaidh sé i bhfeidhm agus beidh éifeacht aige ionann is dá mba faoin Acht seo a rinneadh nó a tugadh é agus, sa mhéid gurbh fhéidir é a dhéanamh nó a thabhairt faoi fhoráil áirithe den Acht seo, measfar gur faoin bhforáil sin a rinneadh nó a tugadh é.
(2) Aon ordú, rialachán nó riail den sórt sin a rinneadh faoi chumhacht is infheidhmithe faoi fhoráil chomhréire den Acht seo le hionstraim de chineál éagsúil, measfar gurb ionstraim den chineál sin é.
(3) Aon duine i seilbh oifige nó ag gníomhú nó ag fónamh faoi réim nó de bhua achtacháin a aisghairtear leis an Acht seo, leanfaidh sé de bheith i seilbh oifige nó de ghníomhú nó d'fhónamh ionann is dá mba faoin bhforáil chomhréire den Acht seo a ceapadh é.
(4) Aon chlár a choimeádtar faoi achtachán a aisghairtear leis an Acht seo, measfar é a bheith ina chuid den chlár atá le coimeád faoin bhforáil chomhréire den Acht seo.
(5) Na forálacha atá san alt seo, is forálacha gan dochar d'fheidhm ghinearálta alt 21 den Acht Léiriúcháin, 1937, maidir le héifeacht aisghairmeacha, iad.
CUID II
Bainistí agus Rialú Mianach agus Cairéal
Úinéirí Mianaigh agus Cairéil
Dualgais ghinearálta úinéirí mianaigh agus cairéil.
12.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar úinéir gach mianaigh agus cairéil a áirithiú go bhfuil an mianach nó an cairéal pleanáilte, leagtha amach, á bhainistí agus á oibriú de réir an Achta seo agus na n-orduithe agus na rialachán, agus gach ceanglas fúthu sin a chomhlíonadh.
(2) Tabharfaidh an t-úinéir ordacháin i scríbhinn do gach duine a cheapfaidh sé chun a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfar dualgais reachtúla an úinéara ag míniú freagracht an duine sin.
(3) Déanfaidh an t-úinéir cóip de na hordacháin sin a chur, láithreach, chuig cigire agus chuig bainisteoir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil.
Bainisteoirí Mianaigh agus Oifigigh eile
Ceapadh bainisteoirí mianaigh, agus a ndualgais agus a gcumhachtaí go ginearálta.
13.—(1) Faoi réir na Coda seo, ní oibreofar mianach ar bith mura bhfuil bainisteoir aonair ar an mianach, agus é ina phearsa aonair a ceapadh go cuí agus cáilíochtaí aige mar is gá faoin gCuid seo.
(2) Beidh bainistí agus urlámhas mianaigh faoi bhainisteoir an mhianaigh, agus é infheidhmithe aige faoi réir aon ordacháin a thabharfar dó ón úinéir nó thar a cheann, agus ina theannta sin—
(a) beidh de dhualgas air a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfaidh gach duine eile na hoibleagáidí a chuirfear air i leith an mhianaigh faoin Acht seo, agus
(b) beidh air na dualgais maidir le daoine a cheapadh chun cigireacht a dhéanamh ar an mianach agus bheith i bhfeighil oibríochtaí ann, nó oibríochtaí ann a mhaoirsiú nó a stiúradh, agus na dualgais eile, agus beidh aige na cumhachtaí, a chuirfear air nó a thabharfar dó faoin Acht seo.
(3) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh, maidir le gach tuarascáil, taifead, nó mír eile eolais a thaifeadfar, de bhun an Achta seo nó de bhun rialachán, i leabhar is gá d'úinéir an mhianaigh a chur ar fáil chuige sin, de réir nó de bhua an Achta seo, é sin a léamh láithreach é féin nó a áirithiú go léifidh duine inniúil éigin eile é láithreach agus go gcuirfear in iúl dó féin go pras aon ábhar a nochtadh sa tuarascáil, sa taifead nó sa mhír eile eolais agus is ábhar de shaghas neamhdhual nó neamhghnách maidir leis an mianach nó, gan a bheith ina ábhar den saghas sin, is de chineál a thugann nó a d'fhéadfadh a thabhairt gur ghá don bhainisteoir nó d'aon duine eile aon bhearta a dhéanamh ina thaobh.
(4) Is é an t-úinéir a cheapfaidh bainisteoir mianaigh ach, más pearsa aonair an t-úinéir, féadfaidh sé é féin a cheapadh, faoi réir an choinníll, i gcás mianaigh ar gá faoin gCuid seo cáilíochtaí dá oifig a bheith ag an mbainisteoir, go bhfuil na cáilíochtaí sin ag an úinéir.
Cearta bainisteora mianaigh maidir le hordacháin a thabharfaidh úinéir nó a thabharfar thar a cheann.
14.—(1) Aon ordacháin a thabharfar ón úinéir nó thar a cheann do bhainisteoir mianaigh, agus a bhainfidh le comhlíonadh a fhreagrachtaí reachtúla ag an mbainisteoir, déanfar, sa mhéid nach mbeidh siad i scríbhinn, iad a dhaingniú láithreach i scríbhinn ón duine a thug iad, arna iarraidh sin don bhainisteoir.
(2) Ach amháin i gcás éigeandála, ní dhéanfaidh úinéir mianaigh ná duine a bheidh ag gníomhú thar a cheann, ach amháin le toiliú an bhainisteora, aon ordacháin a thabhairt, ar dhóigh seachas tríd an mbainisteoir, do dhuine atá ar fostú sa mhianach agus atá freagrach don bhainisteoir.
(3) Más rud é, in aon chás eiscthe, go dtabharfaidh úinéir mianaigh, nó duine a bheidh ag gníomhú thar a cheann, ordacháin ar ghá in aon chás eile gur tríd an mbainisteoir a thabharfaí iad, déanfaidh an duine a thug na hordacháin éirim na n-ordachán sin a chur in iúl láithreach don bhainisteoir agus, arna iarraidh sin don bhainisteoir, iad a dhaingniú láithreach i scríbhinn.
(4) Más rud é, i gcás mianaigh ar gá faoin gCuid seo dá bhainisteoir cáilíochtaí dá oifig a bheith aige, go dtabharfaidh an t-úinéir ordacháin, nó go dtabharfar thar a cheann iad, don bhainisteoir nó do dhuine a bheidh ceaptha ag an mbainisteoir de bhun an Achta seo nó de bhun rialachán, ansin, má tá an bainisteoir ar an tuairim go ndéanfadh, nó gur dóigh go ndéanfadh, feidhmiú na n-ordachán dochar do shábháilteacht nó sláinte na ndaoine atá ar fostú sa mhianach (nó d'aon duine acu) nó bac a chur air i gcomhlíonadh aon dualgais, maidir leis an mianach, a chuirtear air leis an Acht seo nó dá bhua, féadfaidh sé—
(a) más dó féin a thabharfar na hordacháin, diúltú iad a fheidhmiú go dtí go ndéanfar iad a dhaingniú i scríbhinn ó dhuine atá cáilithe lena cheapadh ina bhainisteoir ar an mianach agus atá údaraithe i scríbhinn ag an úinéir chun ordacháin a thabharfar amhlaidh a dhaingniú,
(b) i gcás ar bith eile, a threorú nach ndéanfar na hordacháin a fheidhmiú go dtí go mbeidh siad daingnithe amhlaidh ag duine den sórt sin.
(5) Ní bhainfidh fo-alt (4) le hordacháin a thabharfaidh úinéir mianaigh ar pearsa aonair é atá cáilithe lena cheapadh ina bhainisteoir ar mhianach den sórt sin nó a thabharfaidh duine den sórt a luaitear i mír (a) den fho-alt sin.
(6) Más rud é, i gcás mianaigh lena mbaineann fo-alt (4), go dtabharfar agus go ndaingneofar ordacháin mar a luaitear san fho-alt sin, coimeádfaidh an bainisteoir doiciméad a ndaingnithe agus coimeádfaidh an t-úinéir cóip den doiciméad sin, i ngach cás go ceann trí bliana tar éis deireadh a theacht le feidhm na n-ordachán.
Cáilíochtaí bainisteora mianaigh.
15.—Ní bheidh duine ar bith cáilithe lena cheapadh, ná le bheith, ina bhainisteoir ar mhianach a bhfuil níos mó ná ceithre dhuine dhéag ar fostú faoi thalamh ann mura bhfuil an aois a fhorordófar slánaithe aige agus na cáilíochtaí a fhordordófar aige agus mura gcomhlíonfadh sé cibé coinníollacha eile a fhorordófar.
Maoirsiú laethúil ag bainisteoirí mianaigh.
16.—(1) Ní oibreofar aon mhianach mura mbeidh maoirseacht phearsanta laethúil á déanamh air ag an mbainisteoir nó, i gcaitheamh aon tréimhse a bheidh sé as láthair ar saoire nó gan bheith in ann an mhaoirseacht sin a dhéanamh de dheasca breoiteachta nó ar chúis eile nach bhfuil neart aige air, ag duine a cheapfaidh úinéir an mhianaigh (agus ag a mbeidh na cáilíochtaí a bheidh forordaithe (má bhíonn) chun an mhaoirseacht sin a dhéanamh i gcaitheamh aon tréimhse den sórt sin.
(2) Ní údaróidh fo-alt (1) mianach a oibriú faoi mhaoirseacht duine seachas an bainisteoir ar feadh aon tréimhse is mó ná dhá lá is seachtó (nó cibé tréimhse is faide ná sin a cheadóidh cigire).
(3) Duine a cheapfar faoi fho-alt (1) déanfar, sa mhéid a bhainfidh le haon tréimhse a bheidh sé ag gníomhú i bhfeidhmiú a cheapacháin, é a áireamh chun críocha an Achta seo agus orduithe arna ndéanamh faoi agus rialachán, ar gach dóigh ionann is dá mba é bainisteoir an mhianaigh é, ach ní fhorléireofar aon ní san fho-alt seo mar ní a bhainfidh den bhainisteoir aon chumhacht, ná a shaorfaidh é ó aon dualgas nó dliteanas, a thugtar dó nó a chuirtear air leis an Acht seo nó dá bhua.
Ionadaithe.
17.—(1) Féadfar foráil a dhéanamh le rialacháin—
(a) chun go bhforchuirfear, maidir le mianach, cibé ceanglais i dtaobh cigireacht ar an mianach, is cuí leis an Aire a fhorchur, chun sábháilteacht agus sláinte na ndaoine a fhostaítear a áirithiú, ag daoine inniúla (a dtugtar “ionadaí” ar gach duine acu san Acht seo) a cheapfaidh bainisteoir an mhianaigh chun na críche sin agus ag a mbeidh na cáilíochtaí a fhorordófar;
(b) chun a fhoráil, faoi réir aon eisceachtaí dá ndéanfar socrú leis na rialacháin, go mbeidh na daoine a bheidh ar fostú sa mhianach, agus na hoibríochtaí a bheidh ar siúl acu, faoina gcúram go díreach ag na hionadaithe;
(c) chun aon dualgais bhreise a bheidh le comhlíonadh ag ionadaithe a fhorordú, agus chun a cheangal, faoi réir aon eisceachtaí a fhorordófar, go gcaithfidh ionadaithe a gcuid ama go léir le comhlíonadh a ndualgas; agus
(d) chun a cheangal nó a údarú go ndéanfar teorannú i mianach ar cheantair le haghaidh comhlíonadh a ndualgas ag ionadaithe, chun a cheangal i gcás ina ndéanfar ceantair a theorannú nach mbeidh níos mó ná ceantar amháin faoi chúram aon ionadaí áirithe, agus chun dualgais an ionadaí a bheidh i mbun gach ceantair a shonrú i leith an cheantair sin.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainsteoir an mhianaigh a áirithiú go mbeidh leorlíon ionadaithe ann chun a ndualgais a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtúil.
Oifigigh, innealtóirí, teicneoírí, etc., eile.
18.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh líon oifigeach, innealtóirí agus teicneoirí agus daoine inniúla eile a cheapadh is leor (agus gníomhaíochtaí a áireamh a ghabhfaidh an bainisteoir agus aon daoine a cheapfar amhlaidh orthu féin go pearsanta) chun a áirithiú—
(a) go ndéanfar leorchigireacht ar an mianach agus ar a threalamh,
(b) go ndéanfar maoirseacht léircheart ar na hoibríochtaí uile sa mhianach, agus
(c) go ndéanfar gnóthas an mhianaigh a sheoladh de réir an Achta seo.
(2) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal ar bhainisteoir mianaigh cibé oifigigh, innealtóirí nó teicneoirí nó daoine inniúla eile a fhorordófar a cheapadh, chun oibríochtaí nó nithe forordaithe a mhaoirsiú, a chigiriú nó a stiúradh, agus féadfaidh na rialacháin na cáilíochtaí is gá a bheith ag na daoine sin, agus na dualgais a bheidh le comhlíonadh acu, a fhorordú.
Dualgas bainisteora mianaigh chun a áirithiú go dtuigeann na daoine a cheapfaidh sé a gcuid dualgas.
19.—Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh a áirithiú go feadh a chumais go dtuigeann gach duine a cheapfaidh sé de bhun an Achta seo nó de bhun rialachán cad é cineál agus réim a dhualgas.
Conraitheoirí agus a gcuid fostaithe a dhícháiliú chun a gceaptha mar bhainisteoirí nó ionadaithe mianaigh.
20.—I gcás ina mbeidh mianach nó aon chuid de á oibriú, nó aon oibríochtaí i mianach á seoladh, ag conraitheoir, agus ina gceanglaítear ar dhuine faoin gCuid seo cáilíochtaí a bheith aige lena cheapadh ina bhainisteoir nó ina ionadaí, ní bheidh an conraitheoir ná duine a bheidh ar fostú aige incheaptha chun na hoifige sin d'ainneoin é a bheith, ar leithligh ón alt seo, cáilithe lena cheapadh chuici.
Pleananna
Pleananna.
21.—(1) Féadfaidh rialacháin a cheangal ar bhainisteoir mianaigh na nithe seo a leanas a choimeád san oifig ag an mianach nó in áit éigin eile a cheadóidh cigire—
(a) pleananna beachta de na hoibreacháin (cibé acu a bheidh siad tréigthe nó nach mbeidh) sa mhianach nó laistigh, nó faoi achar forordaithe, de theorainneacha an mhianaigh nó de cibé oibreacháin acu sin a fhorordófar,
(b) trasghearrthaí beachta de na síoga nó na féitheacha atá á n-oibriú de thuras na huaire sa mhianach agus de na sraitheanna go léir os a gcionn,
i cibé foirm agus ar cibé modh agus de réir cibé coinníollacha a fhorordófar.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar an úinéir agus ar an mbainisteoir araon, agus ar cibé daoine eile a fhorordófar, an t-eolas agus na saoráidí go léir a bheidh ag teastáil uaidh chuige sin a thabhairt don duine a mbeidh aon phlean nó trasghearradh á ullmhú aige.
(3) Féadfar a cheangal le rialacháin, i gcás mianach nó síog nó féith i mianach a thréigean nó a ligean as úsáid, ar an úinéir na pleananna sin, agus na trasghearrthaí a bhaineann leo agus leis na sraitheanna os a gcionn, a chur chuig cigire i cibé imthosca, laistigh de cibé tréimhse, agus i cibé foirm agus modh, agus de réir cibé coinníollacha, a fhorordófar.
Pleananna lochtacha.
22.—(1) Más dóigh leis an Aire—
(a) go bhfuil aon phlean nó trasghearradh lena mbaineann alt 21 neamhchruinn, neamhiomlán nó i ndrochriocht, nó go bhfuil sé doléite go hiomlán nó go páirteach, nó nár cuireadh chuig cigire laistigh den tréimhse fhorordaithe plean nó trasghearradh ba ghá a chur chuige, agus
(b) gurb inmhianaithe, ar mhaithe leis an tsábháilteacht, plean nó trasghearradh nua a dhéanamh,
féadfaidh an tAire duine a cheapadh (dá ngairtear “an suirbhéir” san alt seo) chun plean nó trasghearradh nua a dhéanamh.
(2) Tabharfaidh an t-úinéir agus an bainisteoir cibé saoráidí agus eolas a bheidh ag teastáil uaidh don suirbhéir.
(3) Beidh an costas a bhainfidh le plean nó trasghearradh nua a dhéanamh, nó cibé cuid den chostas is cuí leis an Aire, inghnóthaithe ag an Aire ón úinéir.
Bainisteoirí Cairéil agus Oifigigh eile
Bainisteoirí cairéil a cheapadh.
23.—(1) Faoi réir na Coda seo, ní oibreofar cairéal ar bith mura bhfuil bainisteoir aonair ar an gcairéal, agus é ina phearsa aonair.
(2) Is é an t-úinéir a cheapfaidh an bainisteoir, agus más pearsa aonair an t-úinéir féadfaidh sé é féin a cheapadh.
Cumhachtaí agus dualgais ghinearálta bhainisteoirí cairéal.
24.—(1) Faoi réir alt 25 beidh bainistí agus urlámhas cairéil faoi bhainisteoir an chairéil, agus é infheidhmithe aige faoi réir aon ordachán a thabharfar dó ón úinéir nó thar a cheann, agus beidh de dhualgas air freisin a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfaidh gach duine eile na hoibleagáidí a chuirtear air i leith an chairéil leis na forálacha ina dhiaidh seo den Chuid seo nó fúthu.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir cairéil, maidir le gach tuarascáil, taifead, nó mír eile eolais a thaifeadfar, de bhun an Achta seo nó de bhun rialachán, i leabhar is gá d'úinéir cairéil a chur ar fáil chuige sin, de réir nó de bhua an Achta seo, é sin a léamh láithreach é féin nó a áirithiú go léifidh duine inniúil éigin eile é láithreach agus go gcuirfear in iúl dó féin go pras aon ábhar a nochtadh sa tuarascáil, sa taifead nó sa mhír eile eolais agus a bhaineann le hábhar atá faoi réim na bainistí agus an urlámhais a dhílsítear dó leis an alt seo, agus is ábhar de shaghas neamhdhual nó neamhgnách maidir leis an gcairéal nó, gan a bheith ina ábhar den saghas sin, is de chineál a thugann nó a d'fhéadfadh a thabhairt gur ghá don bhainisteoir nó d'aon duine eile aon bhearta a dhéanamh ina thaobh.
Cumhacht úinéara cairéil chun ábhair a eisiamh ó urlámhas bainisteora.
25.—(1) Eiscfear ón mbainistí agus ón urlámhas a dhílsítear don bhainisteoir le halt 24 aon ábhar a mbeidh an fhreagracht ina leith forcoimeádta dó féin, de thuras na huaire, ag an úinéir le hionstraim i scríbhinn a d'fhorghníomhaigh sé agus a thaisc sé leis an gcigire, agus ní bheidh de chúram ar an mbainisteoir, maidir le haon ábhar a eiscfear amhlaidh, a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfar aon cheanglas a fhorchuirtear maidir leis an gcairéal leis an Acht seo nó faoi.
(2) Má bhíonn an cigire ar an tuairim go ndéanfaidh, nó gur dóigh go ndéanfaidh, forcoimeád na freagrachta i leith aon ábhair áirithe don úinéir le haon ionstraim den sórt sin dochar do shábháilteacht nó sláinte daoine a fhostaítear sa chairéal, féadfaidh an cigire, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar an úinéir, a threorú go mbeidh an ionstraim, sa mhéid a bhaineann leis an bhforcoimeád, gan éifeacht ar bith.
(3) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní i bhfo-alt (1) mar ní a údaraíonn aon dualgas a bhaint de bhainisteoir cairéil, ná mar ní a oibríonn chun aon dualgas a bhaint de, a chuirtear air go sainráite leis na forálacha ina dhiaidh seo den Chuid seo nó fúthu.
(4) I gcás ina mbeidh freagracht i leith aon ábhair forcoimeádta go hiomchuí de thuras na huaire d'úinéir cairéil, beidh de dhualgas air, maidir le gach tuarascáil, taifead nó mír eile eolais den sórt a dúradh, é sin a léamh é féin láithreach nó a áirithiú go léifidh duine inniúil éigin eile é láithreach agus go gcuirfear in iúl dó féin go pras ábhar a nochtadh sa tuarascáil, sa taifead nó sa mhír eile eolais a bhaineann leis an ábhar a mbeidh an fhreagracht ina leith forcoimeádta amhlaidh, agus is ábhar de shaghas neamhdhual nó neamhghnách maidir leis an gcaireál nó, gan a bheith ina ábhar den saghas sin, is de chinéal a thugann nó a d'fhéadfadh a thabhairt gur ghá don úinéir nó d'aon duine eile aon bhearta a dhéanamh ina leith.
Cearta bainisteora cairéil maidir le hordacháin a thabharfar ón úinéir nó thar a cheann.
26.—(1) Aon ordacháin a thabharfar ón úinéir nó thar a cheann do bhainisteoir cairéil, agus a bhainfidh le comhlíonadh a fhreagrachtaí reachtúla ag an mbainisteoir, déanfar, sa mhéid nach mbeidh siad i scríbhinn, iad a dhaingniú i scríbhinn láithreach ón duine a thug iad, arna iarraidh sin don bhainisteoir.
(2) Ach amháin i gcás éigeandála, ní dhéanfaidh úinéir cairéil ná duine a bheidh ag gníomhú thar a cheann, ach amháin le toiliú an bhainisteora, aon ordacháin a thabhairt, ar dhóigh seachas tríd an mbainisteoir, do dhuine atá ar fostú sa chairéal agus atá freagrach don bhainisteoir, arb ordacháin iad a bhainfidh le comhlíonadh dhualgais an duine sin maidir le hábhair atá faoi réim na bainistí agus an urlámhais a dhílsítear don bhainisteoir le halt 24.
(3) Más rud é, in aon chás eiscthe, go dtabharfaidh an t-úinéir, nó duine a bheidh ag gníomhú thar a cheann, ordacháin ar ghá in aon chás eile gur tríd an mbainisteoir a thabharfaí iad, déanfaidh an duine a thug na hordacháin éirim na n-ordachán sin a chur in iúl láithreach don bhainisteoir agus, arna iarraidh sin don bhainisteoir, iad a dhaingniú láithreach i scríbhinn.
Maoirsiú ag bainisteoir cairéil.
27.—(1) Ní oibreofar aon chairéal mura mbeidh dlúhmhaoirseacht éifeachtúil á déanamh ag an mbainisteoir ar na hoibríochtaí go léir a bheidh ar siúl ann nó i gcaitheamh aon tréimhse a bheidh sé as láthair ar saoire nó gan bheith in ann an mhaoirseacht sin a dhéanamh de dheasca breoiteachta nó ar chúis eile nach bhfuil neart aige air, ag duine a cheapfaidh an t-úinéir chun an mhaoirseacht sin a dhéanamh i gcaitheamh aon tréimhse den sórt sin.
(2) Ní cheanglóidh aon ní i bhfo-alt (1) go sroichfeadh an mhaoirseacht a bheidh le déanamh ag an mbainisteoir chun aon oibríocht sa mhéid go mbaineann sí le nithe atá, faoi alt 25, eiscthe óna bhainistí agus óna urlámhas.
(3) Déanfar an duine a cheapfar, le linn dó bheith ag gníomhú amhlaidh, a áireamh chun críocha an Achta seo ar gach dóigh ionann is dá mba é an bainisteoir é.
(4) Ní bhainfidh aon ní i bhfo-alt (3) den bhainisteoir aon chumhacht, ná ní shaorfaidh sé ó aon dualgas ná dliteanas, a thugtar dó nó a chuirtear air leis an Acht seo nó faoi.
Cumhacht chun a cheangal go mbeidh bainisteoir cáilithe ann i gcás ina mbeidh oibríochtaí áirithe cairéaladóireachta ar siúl.
28.—Féadfar le rialacháin toirmeasc a chur le oibríochtaí de chineál a fhorordófar a dhéanamh i gcairéal mura bhfuil cáilíochtaí a fhorordófar ag an mbainisteoir, agus féadfaidh aon rialacháin den sórt sin—
(a) socrú a dhéanamh le haghaidh díolúintí sealadacha ón toirmeasc ionas, i gcás an bainisteoir a scor de bheith i seilbh
oifige, nach scoirfear go hobann d'oibríochtaí den chineál sin a dhéanamh sa chairéal, agus
(b) a fhoráil nach n-údaróidh alt 27 aon duine a cheapadh chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar na hoibríochtaí sin mura bhfuil na cáilíochtaí a fhorordófar ag an duine sin.
Oifigigh, etc.
29.—Féadfar, le rialacháin a cheangal ar úinéirí nó bainisteoirí cairéil cibé oifigigh, innealtóirí nó teicneoirí nó daoine inniúla eile a fhorordófar a cheapadh, chun oibríochtaí nó nithe forordaithe a mhaoirsiú, a chigiriú nó a stiúradh, agus féadfaidh na rialacháin na cáilíochtaí is gá a bheith ag na daoine sin, agus na dualgais a bheidh le comhlíonadh acu, a fhorordú.
Forálacha maidir le Ceapacháin ag Úinéirí Mianaigh agus Cairéil.
Ceapacháin shealadacha le linn folúntais in oifig bhainisteora mianaigh nó cairéil.
30.—(1) I gcás bainisteoir mianaigh nó cairéil d'fháil bháis, d'éirí as oifig nó a scor ar dhóigh eile de bheith i seilbh oifige, ní chuirfidh aon ní in alt 13 nó 23 cosc leis an mianach nó an cairéal a oibriú tráth ar bith i rith tréimhse nach faide ná dhá lá is seachtó (nó cibé tréimhse is faide ná sin a cheadóidh cigire) go dtí go gceapfar comharba, más rud é go mbeidh duine ceaptha an tráth sin ag an úinéir chun cumhachtaí agus dualgais an bhainisteora a fheidhmiú agus a chomhlíonadh, i gcás an bainisteoir a scor de bheith i seilbh oifige go dtí go gceapfar comharba.
(2) Le linn don duine a bheidh ceaptha a bheith ag gníomhú amhlaidh, déanfar, chun críocha an Achta seo, é a áireamh ar gach dóigh ionann is dá mba é an bainisteoir é.
Ceapacháin ag úinéirí mianaigh nó cairéil a chur in iúl do chigire.
31.—Díreach tar éis d'úinéir mianaigh nó cairéil duine a cheapadh chun bheith ina bhainisteoir, nó chun cumhachtaí agus dualgais bhainisteora a fheidhmiú agus a chomhlíonadh le linn folúntais, nó chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh i gcaitheamh tréimhse a bheidh an bainisteoir as láthair nó gan bheith in ann maoirseacht a dhéanamh, tabharfaidh an t-úinéir don chigire fógra, i cibé foirm a shonróidh an tAire, go ndearnadh an ceapachán, maraon le hainm agus seoladh an duine a ceapadh.
CUID III
Sábháilteacht, Sláinte agus Leas (Mianaigh)
Sloic agus Slite Isteach
Ceanglais maidir le sloic agus easraisí: mianaigh ghuail agus mhianraí srathaithe eile.
32.—(1) Ní foláir dhá shloc nó easrais, ar a laghad, a bheith i ngach mianach guail nó mianra shrathaithe eile, agus idirbhealach chucu a bheith ag gach síog a bheidh á hoibriú de thuras na huaire sa mhianach, ionas go dtabharfaidh na sloic nó na heasraisí sin slí ar leith isteach agus amach do na daoine a bheidh ar fostú i ngach síog den sórt sin, cibé acu leis an mianach céanna nó le níos mó ná mianach amháin a bhaineann na sloic nó na heasraisí sin.
(2) Ní foláir gan an dá shloc nó easrais sin a bheith níos gaire dá chéile ná cúig shlat déag ag pointe ar bith, agus beidh idirbhealach eatarthu nach lú ná ceithre throigh ar leithead agus ceithre throigh ar airde.
(3) Cuirfear ar fáil i ngach cuid den mhianach ina mbeidh deich nduine nó níos mó ar fostú san am céanna dhá shlí, ar a laghad, amach go dtí an dromchla, agus iad socraithe sa dóigh, má tharlaíonn ceachtar acu a bheith doghabhalá ag pointe ar bith, go dtabharfaidh an ceann eile slí amach go dtí an dromchla.
(4) Ní bhacfaidh aon chomhaontú ar dhuine ar bith cibé gníomhartha a dhéanamh is gá chun na forálacha roimhe seo den alt seo a chomhlíonadh, ná ní chuirfidh conradh ar bith aon duine faoi dhliteanas aon urghaire, damáistí, pionóis, ná forghéillte mar gheall ar cibé gníomhartha is gá a dhéanamh chun na forálacha sin a chomhlíonadh.
(5) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a fhoráil go mbainfidh an t-alt seo, le cibé eisceachtaí, modhnuithe agus oiriúnuithe a fhorordófar, le haon chineál eile mianaigh.
(6) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a fhoráil go gcuirfear cibé coimircí eile is cuí leis an Aire ar fáil chun slí shábháilte isteach agus amach a áirithiú, lena n-áirítear ceanglais maidir leis na hidirbhealaí a bheidh le cur ar fáil agus le cothabháil idir sloic agus easraisí, agus teorainneacha leis an líon daoine a fhostófar tráth ar bith in áit faoi thalamh nach bhfuil dhá shlí ar leith uaidh, agus iad áisiúil sábháilte agus gach ceann acu ag gabháil go dtí sloc nó easrais éagsúil.
(7) Féadfar, le rialacháin nó le fógra a sheirbheálfaidh an tAire nó cigire ar úinéir mianaigh, foráil a dhéanamh chun an mianach nó aon áit shonraithe ann a dhíolmhú ó gach ceann nó aon cheann de cheanglais an ailt seo nó rialachán arna ndéanamh faoi.
Gaireas tochrais agus tarlaithe a chur ar fáil.
33.—(1) I ngach sloc agus easrais doshiúlta a bheidh de thuras na huaire ar úsáid i mianach guail nó mianra shrathaithe eile chun daoine a iompar go dtí an dromchla agus uaidh, beidh gaireas chun daoine a iompar idir barr an tsloic, nó an tslí isteach ar an dromchla chun na heasraise agus na slite isteach chun na n-oibreachán agus idir na slite isteach sin iad féin.
(2) (a) I ngach sloc agus easrais doshiúlta a bheidh de thuras na huaire ar úsáid in aon mhianach eile chun daoine a iompar go dtí an dromchla agus uaidh, beidh gaireas chun daoine a iompar idir barr an tsloic, nó an tslí isteach ar an dromchla chun na heasraise, agus na slite isteach chun na n-oibreachán agus idir na slite isteach sin iad féin, más mó ná céad is caoga troigh an t-achar iomchuí.
(b) San fho-alt seo, ciallaíonn “achar iomchuí”, i gcás sloic, an t-achar idir barr an tsloic agus bun na slí isteach is íochtaraí chun an tsloic a bheidh ann chun go bhféadfaidh daoine an sloc a rochtain agus, i gcás easraise, an t-achar idir an pointe mar a sroicheann an easrais an dromchla agus an tslí isteach faoi thalamh a bheidh ann chun go bhféadfaidh daoine an easrais is faide ón bpointe sin a rochtain.
(c) Féadfaidh cigire, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir mianaigh, sloc nó easrais atá sa mhianach a dhíolmhú ón bhfo-alt seo.
(3) Beidh an gaireas de réir cibé ceanglas a fhorordófar.
(4) Ní úsáidfear an gaireas ach amháin don sloc nó don easrais, mura rud é, in aon chás áirithe go dtoileoidh cigire, trí fhógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh, le húsáid thairis sin a bhaint as.
(5) Déanfar gach gaireas a chothabháil go cuí agus, nuair nach mbeidh sé á úsáid, coimeádfar ar fáil i gcónaí é lena úsáid.
Sloic agus slocáin a dhaingniú.
34.—(1) Daingneofar gach sloc agus slocán i mianach, ach amháin sa mhéid nach gá sin mar gheall ar dhálaí nádúrtha na sraitheanna trína ngabhann sé (maidir leis an iomlán nó le haon chuid de), agus coimeádfar daingean é.
In aon ionchúiseamh mar gheall ar shárú ar an bhfo-alt seo is cosaint é a chruthú nach raibh, tráth an tsáraithe líomhnaithe, aon chuid éadaingean den sloc nó den slocán sin á húsáid, ná nár láithreán í a raibh aon oibríochtaí ar siúl ann chun an sloc nó an slocán a tholladh nó a mhéadú.
(2) Bainfidh fo-alt (1) le heasraisí doshiúlta i mianach faoi mar a bhaineann sé le sloic mhianaigh.
Réamhchúram sábháilteachta maidir leis na slite isteach i sloic, i slocáin agus in easraisí.
35.—(1) Sa tslí isteach ar an dromchla go dtí gach sloc mianaigh agus i ngach slí isteach eile go dtí é (cibé acu os cionn talún nó faoi thalamh dó), agus i ngach slí isteach go dtí gach slocán, beidh iamhlann nó bacainn éifeachtúil a bheidh deartha agus déanta ar dhóigh go gcoiscfidh sé duine ar bith ar thitim de thionóisc síos an sloc nó an slocán nó ar theagmháil de thionóisc le cuid ghluaiste d'aon ghaireas tochrais a bheidh sa sloc nó sa slocán.
(2) Déanfar gach iamhlann nó bacainn a chothabháil go cuí agus, má tá sí nó má tá aon chuid di inaistrithe nó inoscailte, coimeádfar an iamhlann, an bhacainn nó an chuid sin ina hionad go daingean nó, de réir mar a bheidh, dúnta go daingean ach amháin sa mhéid gur gá í a aistriú nó a oscailt ionas go bhféadfar an sloc nó an slocán a úsáid, nó chun aon obair a dhéanamh sa sloc nó sa slocán, nó chun cigireacht a dhéanamh ar an sloc nó an slocán, nó ar aon ní ann.
(3) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal go ndéanfar cibé bearta a fhorordófar chun daoine a chosc ar dhul isteach de thionóisc in easraisí mianach nó ar theagmháil de thionóisc le codanna gluaiste d'aon ghaireas iontu.
(4) Chun críocha an ailt seo, measfar gur cuid de shloc an méid d'aon bharrdhéanmhas ar bharr an tsloic ar méadú é ar an sloc.
(5) Ní bhainfidh an t-alt seo le sloc ná easrais, ná le slocán, i mianach tréigthe, nó i mianach nach raibh á oibriú le tréimhse dhá mhí déag anuas, ach, lasmuigh dá bhfuil ráite, bainfidh sé le sloic, easraisí agus slocáin nach bhfuil in úsáid chomh maith le sloic, easraisí agus slocáin atá in úsáid.
Bealaí
Forálacha ginearálta maidir le bealaí a dhéanamh agus a chothabháil.
36.—(1) Baineann an t-alt seo le gach bealach i mianach.
(2) Gach bealach a dhéanfar tar éis tosach feidhme an ailt seo, déanfar agus cothábhálfar é ar dhóigh go seachnófar athruithe obanna treo, airde, leithid agus fána, ach amháin sa mhéid go dtugann córas oibrithe an mhianaigh nó dálaí nádúrtha na sraitheanna ann nach inmholta ó thaobh na sábháilteachta é sin a dhéanamh, nó nach gá é a dhéanamh.
(3) Más rud é, i gcás aon bhealaigh a rinneadh roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, go bhfuil cigire ar an tuairim gur cheart aon athrú obann treo, airde, leithid nó fána ann a chur ar ceal, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh á cheangal air, laistigh de thréimhse shonraithe, cibé oibreacha a dhéanamh a chuirfidh an t-athrú obann sin ar ceal.
(4) Gach bealach a bheidh á úsáid ag sé dhuine ar a laghad i dtosach nó i ndeireadh seal oibre, coimeádfar saor ó chonstaicí é agus coimeádfar a urlár i ndeisriocht maith.
(5) Bainfidh forálacha alt 146 maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí le fógra a sheirbheálfar faoin alt seo.
(6) Forléireofar tagairtí san alt seo d'athruithe fána mar thagairtí a fholóidh tagairtí do chlaonadh (suas nó síos) ón gcothromán.
(7) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh cibé bearta is gá a dhéanamh chun an t-alt seo a chomhlíonadh.
Airde agus leithead siúlán.
37.—(1) Beidh leorairde agus leorleithead i ngach siúlán agus, más dóigh le cigire nach leor a airde nó a leithead, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh á ordú go ndéanfar aon athrú a shonrófar.
(2) (a) Gach siúlán a dhéanfar tar éis tosach feidhme an fho-ailt seo agus a bheidh á úsáid ag deich nduine ar a laghad i dtosach nó i ndeireadh seal oibre chun siúl go dtí a n-áiteanna oibre nó uathu, beidh sé ar a laghad cúig throigh agus sé orlach ar airde ar a feadh.
(b) Féadfaidh cigire le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir mianaigh, aon bhealach a dhíolmhú ón gceanglas seo.
(3) Bainfidh forálacha alt 146 maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí le fógra a sheirbheálfar faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo.
Toirmeasc ar fheithiclí agus córacha iompair a úsáid ar bhealaí nach féidir gluaiseacht gan bhac orthu.
38.—Ní cheadóidh bainisteoir mianaigh—
(a) feithiclí a rith in aon bhealach sa mhianach mura rud é nach bhfuil na feithiclí ná a n-ualaí, ná (más mar chuid de ghaireas róptharlaithe a ritheann na feithiclí), na rópaí a bhfuil siad ceangailte díobh, ná (más ainmhithe atá ag tarlú na bhfeithiclí) na hainmhithe ná a n-úmacha, ag cuimilt in aghaidh dhíon nó taobhanna an bhealaigh, in aghaidh aon ní is taca do dhíon agus taobhanna an bhealaigh nó do cheachtar acu, ná in aghaidh aon ní sa bhealach nach bhfuil curtha ar fáil chun na feithiclí a rialú ná (i gcás feithiclí a ritheann mar chuid de ghaireas róptharlaithe) in aghaidh na rópaí a bhfuil siad ceangailte díobh;
(b) cóir iompair a oibriú in aon bhealach sa mhianach mura rud é nach bhfuil an chóir iompair ná a hualach ag cuimilt in aghaidh dhíon nó taobhanna an bhealaigh in aghaidh aon ní is taca do dhíon agus taobhanna an bhealaigh nó do cheachtar acu, ná in aghaidh aon ní sa bhealach.
Rialacha agus rialacháin iompair.
39.—(1) Déanfaidh bainisteoir gach mianaigh rialacha (dá ngairtear “rialacha iompair” san alt seo)—
(a) ag sonrú na n-ualaí uasta (de réir meáchain, tomhais, líon nó critéar eile) a fhéadfar a iompar i bhfeithiclí ar feadh aon fhaid de bhealach sa mhianach agus an líon uasta feithiclí (de réir mar a bheidh siad ualaithe nó neamhualaithe) a fhéadfar a cheangal le chéile chun go rithfidh siad mar fhoireann nó scuaine ar aon fhad de bhealach sa mhianach,
(b) ag sonrú na luasanna uasta ar a bhféadfaidh feithiclí rith ar aon fhad de bhealach sa mhianach, agus
(c) á thoirmeasc daoine a iompar i bhfeithiclí nó ar chóracha iompair i mbealaí sa mhianach ach amháin i cibé imthosca agus de réir cibé coinníollacha, más ann, a shonrófar sna rialacha, agus ag sonrú réamhchúraim a bheidh le glacadh nuair a bheidh daoine á n-iompar amhlaidh,
agus féadfaidh sé cibé rialacha eile is cuí leis a dhéanamh maidir le húsáid feithiclí agus córacha iompair sa mhianach agus na coinníollacha faoina bhféadfar iad a úsáid.
(2) (a) Má bhíonn cigire ar an tuairim gur gá rialacha iompair a mhodhnú in aon sonra, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh ag sonrú an mhodhnaithe is dóigh leis is ceart a dhéanamh, agus á cheangal ar an mbainisteoir, laistigh de thréimhse shonraithe, na rialacha a mhodhnú de réir bhrí an fhógra.
(b) Bainfidh forálacha alt 146 maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí le fógra faoin bhfo-alt seo.
(3) Aon riail iompair a bheidh ar neamhréir le forálacha aon rialacháin, beidh sí, go feadh méid na neamhréireachta, gan éifeacht ar bith.
(4) Féadfar a cheangal, le rialacháin, go gcuirfear saoráidí ar fáil chun daoine a iompar trí shiúláin, ar mhaithe leis an tsábháilteacht nó ionas nach mbeadh róthuirse orthu.
Forálacha chun sábháilteacht a áirithiú do choisithe ar bhealaí iompair.
40.—(1) Baineann an t-alt seo le gach bealach i mianach, ar bealach é ar a ritheann feithiclí a ghluaistear ar dhóigh seachas le láimh nó trína dtarraingt ag ainmhithe.
(2) Le linn do na feithiclí sin a bheith ag gluaiseacht sa bhealach, ní cead d'aon duine a bheidh ar fostú sa mhianach (seachas duine údaraithe), ach amháin de réir rialachán, gabháil de chois feadh an bhealaigh mura stopfar gluaiseacht na bhfeithiclí d'aonghnó chun ligean dó é sin a dhéanamh.
(3) Má bhíonn an bealach á úsáid i dtosach nó i ndeireadh seal oibre ag deich nduine ar a laghad, beidh de dhualgas ar an mbainisteoir tréimhse nó tréimhsí a shocrú chun go bhféadfaidh siad siúl go sábháilte, agus ní chuirfidh aon duine faoi deara, ná ní ligfidh sé, d'fheithicil (cibé acu a bheidh sí ualaithe nó nach mbeidh) gluaiseacht, ar dhóigh seachas trína tarraingt le láimh nó ag ainmhithe, sa bhealach i gcaitheamh tréimhse a shocrófar amhlaidh.
(4) Féadfar, le rialacháin, aon bhealach de chineál forordaithe i mianaigh lena mbaineann na rialacháin a dhíolmhú ó aon cheanglas acu sin roimhe seo, agus féadfaidh cigire, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir mianaigh áirithe, aon bhealach sa mhianach sin a dhíolmhú ó aon cheanglas den sórt sin.
(5) In aon ionchúiseamh i leith duine a bheith ag gabháil bealach contrártha d'fho-alt (2), is cosaint é a chruthú go raibh cúis réasúnach aige chun a chreidiúint gur ghá sin chun deisiúchán a dhéanamh láithreach sa bhealach agus go raibh sé ag gabháil an bealach amhlaidh chun cineál nó méid an deisiúcháin a fháil amach.
(6) Ach amháin le cead i scríbhinn ó bhainisteoir mianaigh, ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith, ach amháin de réir rialachán speisialta, feithicil a bheidh ag gluaiseacht mar chuid d'aon ghaireas róptharlaithe a thionlacan de shiúl cos faoi thalamh.
(7) Chun críocha fho-alt (2), ciallaíonn “duine údaraithe”, maidir le bealach i mianach,—
(a) oifigeach don mhianach;
(b) duine a bheidh ar fostú i ndáil le feithiclí a rith sa bhealach sin;
(c) duine a bheidh gafa le, nó i ndáil le, deisiúchán a dhéanamh sa bhealach sin ar gá é a dhéanamh láithreach; nó
(d) duine a bheidh ag gabháil do chigireacht sa mhianach, de bhua na bhforálacha den Acht seo a bhaineann le cigireacht ar oibrithe nó de bhua aon chomhaontaithe den sórt a luaitear sna forálacha sin.
Poill dídine a chur ar fáil.
41.—(1) Faoi réir aon eisceachtaí a fhorordófar, ní cheadóidh bainisteoir mianaigh feithiclí (nach feithiclí a ghluaistear le láimh) a rith ar aon fhad de bhealach sa mhianach mura bhfuil poill dídine ar fáil in ionad fhorordaithe sa bhealach, thar chúig throigh is seachtó ó éadan oibreacháin ar a bhfreastalaíonn sé.
(2) Beidh gach poll dídine den sórt sin de réir cibé tomhas agus ceanglais a fhorordófar.
(3) Coimeádfar gach poll dídine den sórt sin saor ó chonstaic.
(4) San alt seo ní fholaíonn “éadan oibreacháin” áit i mbealach a bhfuil réabadh nó deisiúcháin ar siúl ann.
Bearta sábháilteachta maidir le húsáid feithiclí.
42.—(1) Fad a bheidh feithiclí á n-úsáid i mianach, beidh ar fáil, agus cothabhálfar agus úsáidfear, sa mhianach nó ar na feithiclí, nó sa mhianach agus ar na feithiclí araon, cibé deiseanna sábháilteachta is gá chun cosc a chur le tionóiscí a bhaint do dhaoine trí fheithiclí a dhul ó smacht; agus beidh gach deis de shaghas a bheidh deartha chun go ngabhfaidh sí go huathoibreach san ionad ina n-oibríonn sí chun na críche chun ar dearadh í, ach amháin i gcás ina mbeidh cúis mhaith chun gan deis den saghas sin a chur ar fáil.
(2) Glacfar gach réamhchúram is gá chun go gcosnófar ar dhíobháil, i gcás feithicil a dhul ó smacht, aon duine a bheidh, ar dhóigh seachas mar chúrsa gnáthaimh, ag obair in áit i mianach a ritheann feithicil tríd.
Réamhchúram speisialta do Ghaireas Tochrais agus Róptharlaithe agus do Chóracha Iompair.
Cúram gaireas tochrais agus róptharlaithe le linn daoine a bheith á n-iompar acu.
43.—(1) Ní dhéanfar aon ghaireas tochrais ná róptharlaithe faoi oibriú meicniúil nó imtharraingthe i mianach a oibriú chun daoine a iompar ach amháin ag duine fireann inniúil, atá dhá bhliain is fiche d'aois ar a laghad, a cheapfaidh an bainisteoir; agus beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh leorlíon daoine fireanna inniúla a cheapadh chuige sin.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir mianaigh a áirithiú go mbeidh duine a ceapadh faoin alt seo ag freastal sa mhianach chun an gaireas sin a oibriú fad a bheidh aon duine faoi thalamh a mbeidh sé beartaithe dó teacht amach trí bhíthin an ghairis sin.
(3) Féadfaidh cigire fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir mianaigh á cheangal air a áirithiú, cibé tráthanna a shonrófar san fhógra, nach mbeidh sé curtha de dhualgas ar an duine a bheidh ag freastal níos mó ná aon tacar amháin gairis a oibriú.
(4) Faoi réir aon eisceachtaí a fhorordófar, ní dhéanfar aon duine a cheapfar faoin alt seo a fhostú i mianach guail nó mianra shrathaithe eile ar feadh níos mó ná ocht n-uaire a chloig aon lá arb iad na dualgais a bheidh air, nó a n-áireofar ar a dhualgais, gaireas tochrais faoi oibriú meicniúil nó imtharraingthe ag sloc a oibriú chun daoine a iompar, agus féadfar foráil a dhéanamh, le rialacháin, chun teorainn a chur leis an méid uaire dá bhféadfar aon duine den sórt sin a fhostú in aon seachtain.
Cúram gaireas tochrais agus róptharlaithe nuair nach mbeidh daoine á n-iompar acu.
44.—(1) Ní dhéanfar aon ghaireas tochrais faoi oibriú meicniúil nó imtharraingthe ag sloc nó slocán a oibriú ar aon ócáid nach mbeidh aon daoine á n-iompar aige ach amháin ag duine fireann inniúil, atá bliain is fiche d'aois ar a laghad, nó faoina bhuanmhaoirseacht.
(2) Ní dhéanfar aon ghaireas róptharlaithe faoi oibriú meicniúil nó imtharraingthe i mianach a oibriú ar aon ócáid den sórt sin ach amháin ag duine fireann inniúil, atá ocht mbliana déag d'aois ar a laghad, nó faoina bhuanmhaoirseacht.
(3) Féadfaidh cigire, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir mianaigh, aon ghaireas a dhíolmhú ó fho-alt (2).
Cúram córacha iompair ag éadain oibreacháin
45.—Ní oibreofar aon chóir iompair ar feadh éadain oibreacháin i mianach ach amháin ag duine fireann inniúil, atá ocht mbliana déag d'aois ar a laghad, nó faoina bhuanmhaoirseacht.
Comharthaíocht i sloic agus in easraisí.
46.—(1) I gcás gaireas tochrais nó róptharlaithe a bheith feistithe i sloc mianaigh nó in easrais doshiúlta, déanfar modhanna éifeachtúla chun comharthaí inchloiste agus infheicthe a tharchur ó gach slí isteach a bheidh in úsáid de thuras na huaire go dtí an áit ina mbeidh an gaireas á oibriú a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil i ngach cás inar mó ná caoga troigh an t-achar idir an tslí isteach is airde agus an tslí isteach is ísle a bheidh in úsáid de thuras na huaire sa sloc, nó idir an dromchla fhoircneach agus na slite isteach faoi thalamh chun na heasraise.
(2) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal go gcuirfear ar fáil agus go gcothabhálfar meáin chun comharthaí a tharchur idir na slite isteach iad féin.
(3) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal—
(a) go ndéanfar na comharthaí a fhorordófar a tharchur gcód a fhorordófar;
(b) go gcuirfidh bainisteoir mianaigh in áirithe go mbeidh daoine ag freastal, tráthanna a fhorordófar, chun comharthaí a tharchur agus a ghlacadh.
(4) Chun críocha an ailt seo—
measfar gur cuid de shloc an méid d'aon bharrdhéanmhas ar bharr an tsloic ar méadú é ar an sloc, agus measfar an méid de líne ráillí a ghabhann trí easrais atá idir an pointe mar a sroicheann an easrais an dromchla agus foirceann na líne ar an dromchla a bheith ina chuid den easrais;
(b) folaíonn “slí isteach,” maidir le heasrais, aon áit a stopann feithiclí chun ualú nó dí-ualú a dhéanamh; agus
(c) ciallaíonn “dromchla fhoircneach” agus “slite isteach faoi thalamh,” faoi seach, maidir le heasrais, an tsíl isteach chuici ar an dromchla nó, má tá níos mó ná ceann amháin ann, an ceann sin a bheidh de thuras na huaire in úsáid agus is faide ón bpointe mar a sroicheann an easrais an dromchla agus an tslí isteach faoi thalamh chuici a bheidh in úsáid de thuras na huaire agus is faide ón bpointe sin.
Comharthaíocht i mbealaí.
47.—I gcás gaireas róptharlaithe nó cóir iompair a bheith feistithe i mbealach i mianach nó a bheith feistithe ar dhóigh gur féidir é a oibriú i mbealach, ansin, más mó ná nócha troigh an fad bealaigh trínar féidir le feithiclí gluaiseacht mar chuid den ghaireas sin, nó trínar féidir ualaí a iompar leis an gcóir iompair sin, cuirfear ar fáil agus cothabhálfar meáin éifeachtúla chun comharthaí a tharchur ó gach pointe ar feadh an fhaid bealaigh sin go dtí an áit ina mbeidh an gaireas nó an chóir iompair á oibriú.
Cumhacht chun na cúig alt roimhe seo a eisiamh nó a mhodhnú i gcás gairis faoi chianrialú nó gairis uathoibrithigh.
48.—Féadfar foráil a dhéanamh le rialacháin chun gach ceann nó aon cheann d'fhorálacha alt 43 go 47 a eisiamh nó a mhodhnú i gcás gaireas tochrais nó róptharlaithe, nó córacha iompair, a bheidh feistithe i mianaigh, agus a bhfuil a n-oibriú faoi chianrialú nó uathoibreach go hiomlán nó go páirteach.
Tacaíocht
Dualgas chun bealaí agus áiteanna oibre a dhéanamh sábháilte.
49.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh cibé bearta a dhéanamh, trí ghluaiseacht na sraitheanna sa mhianach a shrianadh agus trí thacú le díon agus taobhanna gach bealaigh nó áite oibre, is gá chun an bealach nó an áit oibre a choimeád slán sábháilte.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh a áirithiú go mbeidh aige gach tráth ábhartha an t-eolas go léir is iomchuí chun a chinneadh cad iad na bearta is gá chun an dualgas a chuirtear air le fo-alt (1) a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtúil.
Córas tacaíochta i mianaigh ghuail agus mhianraí srathaithe eile.
50.—(1) Faoi réir an ailt seo, cuirfear ar fáil agus cothabhálfar, i ngach mianach guail nó mianra shrathaithe eile, córas tacaíochta do dhíon agus taobhanna—
(a) gach áit ina mbíonn aon mhianra á oibriú;
(b) gach ceann bealaigh;
(c) gach acomhal dhá fhad bealaigh nó níos mó a ngabhann feithiclí nó cóir iompair trí aon cheann acu; agus
(d) gach fad bealaigh ina mbíonn daoine ag obair ar dhóigh seachas go hócáideach nó ar feadh tréimhsí gearra.
(2) (a) Má bhíonn cigire ar an tuairim gur ceart córas tacaíochta do dhíon agus taobhanna (nó ceachtar acu) aon fhad bealaigh eile in aon mhianach den sórt sin a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar an mbainisteoir, ina sonrófar an fad bealaigh, ina luafar a thuairim agus ina gceanglófar go gcuirfear an córas tacaíochta sin ar fáil roimh dheireadh tréimhse sonraithe, agus go gcothabhálfar é.
(b) Bainfidh forálacha alt 146 maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí le fógra a sheirbheálfar faoin bhfo-alt seo.
(3) Féadfar le rialacháin, a cheangal, nó a chumasú do chigirí a cheangal, go ndéanfar córas tacaíochta do dhíonta nó taobhanna, nó dóibh araon, a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil i mianaigh de chineál lena mbaineann an t-alt seo i cibé cásanna (nach cásanna a thagann faoi réim fho-alt (1)) agus go feadh cibé méid a fhorordófar.
(4) Féadfar foráil a dhéanamh, le rialacháin, chun aon chineál mianaigh a fhorordófar nó aon chineál áite a fhorordófar a n-oibrítear mianaigh ann, nó cinn bhealaigh, acomhail nó bealaí, a dhíolmhú ón alt seo, agus féadfaidh cigire, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir mianaigh áirithe, an mianach sin, nó aon áit, ceann bealaigh, acomhal, nó bealach den sórt sin ann, a dhíolmhú ón alt seo.
(5) An córas tacaíochta sin a gceanglófar faoin alt seo é a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil, beidh sé de réir córais a shonrófar i rialacha tacaíochta agus ar córas é a bheidh ag cur le srianadh cuí ar ghluaiseacht na sraitheanna sa mhianach.
(6) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní san alt seo mar ní a choiscfidh ar oibrí aon taca breise a shocrú ina áit oibre a mheasfaidh sé is gá chun a shábháilteacht féin nó sábháilteacht duine eile a áirithiú.
Cumhacht chun a cheangal go mbeidh córas tacaíochta i mianaigh eile.
51.—(1) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal, nó a chumasú do chigirí a cheangal, go ndéanfar córas tacaíochta do dhíonta nó taobhanna, nó dóibh araon, a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil i mianaigh seachas mianaigh ghuail nó mhianra shrathaithe eile i cibé cásanna agus go feadh cibé méid a fhorordófar.
(2) Beidh an tacaíocht sin de réir córais a shonrófar i rialacha tacaíochta agus ar córas é a bheidh ag cur le srianadh cuí ar ghluaiseacht na sraitheanna sa mhianach.
Ábhar tacaíochta a chur ar fáil.
52.—(1) Faoi réir aon eisceachtaí a fhorordófar, is é úinéir an mhianaigh a chuirfidh gach ábhar tacaíochta ar fáil.
(2) Ní thoibheofar muirear ar bith ar aon oibrí i leith ábhar tacaíochta a chur ar fáil.
(3) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh a áirithiú go mbeidh leorsholáthar ábhar oiriúnach tacaíochta ar fáil go réidh i gcónaí lena n-úsáid san áit a bhfuil sé ag obair iarbhír, do gach oibrí a mbeidh siad ag teastáil uaidh.
(4) I gcás nach mbeidh soláthar den sórt sin ar fáil, rachaidh an t-oibrí go dtí áit shábháilte agus cuirfidh sé in iúl láithreach d'oifigeach don mhianach go bhfuil sin déanta aige.
(5) Más léir don duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire i gceannas ar chuid de mhianach nach bhfuil an soláthar sin ar fáil amhlaidh d'oibrí atá ar fostú ann, cuirfidh an duine sin faoi deara don oibrí dul go dtí áit shábháilte.
(6) Más rud é, ar ócáid ar bith, go mbeidh oibrí, de bhun ceachtar de na fo-ailt roimhe seo, tar éis imeacht ón áit a raibh sé ag obair ann iarbhír, ní thabharfaidh an duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire i gceannas ar an gcuid sin den mhianach cead don oibrí filleadh ar an áit sin go dtí gur deimhin leis an duine sin go mbeidh soláthar ábhar den sórt sin ar fáil amhlaidh.
Tacaíocht a bhaint ón díon nó ó na taobhanna.
53.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith tacaíocht a bhaint ó dhíon nó taobhanna aon áite i mianach ar dhóigh seachas trí mhodh nó deis trína bhféadfaidh sé é sin a dhéanamh ó ionad sábháilte.
(2) I gcás inar cuid den chóras oibre é tacaíocht a cuireadh ar fáil i gcomhlíonadh an Achta seo a bhaint ón dramhlann nó ón díon in aice leis an dramhlann, ní bhainfidh duine ar bith an tacaíocht sin as a hionad ach amháin de réir córais a shonrófar i rialacha tacaíochta.
Dualgais ionadaithe maidir le tacaíocht.
54.—Beidh de dhualgas ar gach ionadaí a áirithiú go feadh a chumais go gcomhlíonfar na rialacha tacaíochta go léir agus go gcuirfear i bhfeidhm iad agus go socrófar go cuí aon tacaí breise is dóigh leis is gá.
Forálacha maidir le rialacha tacaíochta.
55.—(1) Is é bainisteoir an mhianaigh a dhéanfaidh na rialacha tacaíochta do mhianach.
(2) Beidh rialacha tacaíochta de réir cibé ceanglas a fhorordófar, agus féadfaidh siad cibé dualgais agus toirmisc a chur ar dhaoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach is dóigh le bainisteoir an mhianaigh is cuí chun a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfar na forálacha den Chuid seo a bhaineann le tacaíocht.
(3) (a) Má bhíonn cigire ar an tuairim gur gá rialacha tacaíochta a mhodhnú i sonra ar bith, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh ina sonrófar an modhnú is dóigh leis is ceart a dhéanamh, agus ina gceanglófar ar an mbainisteoir, laistigh de thréimhse a shonrófar, na rialacha a mhodhnú de réir éirim an fhógra.
(b) Bainfidh forálacha alt 146 maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí le fógra a sheirbheálfar faoin bhfo-alt seo.
(4) Aon riail tacaíochta a bheidh ar neamhréir le foralácha aon rialacháin, beidh sí, go feadh méid na neamhréireachta, gan éifeacht ar bith.
(5) Coimeádfar cóip de na rialacha tacaíochta go léir san oifig ag an mianach nó i cibé áit eile a cheadóidh cigire. Déanfaidh an bainisteoir cóip de cibé rialacha a bhainfidh le ceantar a teorannaíodh faoi mhír (d) d'fho-alt (1) d'alt 17 a thabhairt don ionadaí i gceannas an cheantair agus coimeádfar crochta suas í ag an tslí isteach chun an cheantair i dtreo go mbeidh sí sofheicthe agus soléite ag na daoine a bheidh ar fostú sa cheantar.
(6) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh a mbeidh rialacha tacaíochta i bhfeidhm ina leith de thuras na huaire, doiciméad a thabhairt do gach duine a fhostaítear sa mhianach, agus arb iad a dhualgais, nó a n-áirítear ar a dhualgais, tacaí a shocrú de réir córais a shonrófar sna rialacha, a míneofar ann i bhfocail nó le léaráidí, nó go páirteach i bhfocail agus go páirteach le léaráidí, éifeacht na rialacha a mhéid a bhaineann siad leis.
(7) Aon doiciméad a airbheartóidh a bheith deimhnithe ag bainisteoir mianaigh mar chóip dhílis d'aon rialacha tacaíochta, beidh sé ina fhianaise prima facie ar na rialacha.
Aerú
Dualgas chun aerú leordhóthanach a chur ar fáil.
56.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh cibé bearta a dhéanamh is gá chun a áirithiú go mbeidh á chur ar fáil go buan i ngach cuid faoi thalamh den mhianach aerú atá leordhóthanach chun na gcríocha seo a leanas, eadhon,—
(a) chun gáis atá inlasta nó dochrach a chaolú lena ndéanamh neamhdhíobhálach agus iad a thabhairt as; agus
(b) chun aer a sholáthar a mbeidh leordhóthain ocsaigine ann.
(2) Gan dochar d'fheidhm ghinearálta fho-alt (1)—
(a) measfar chun críocha an fho-ailt sin nach bhfuil an t-aerú a chuirtear ar fáil i gcuid de mhianach leordhóthanach chun dé-ocsaíd carbóin a chaolú lena déanamh neamhdhíobhálach mura rud é nach mó ná ceathrú faoin gcéad de réir toirte, nó cibé céatadán faoina bhun sin a fhorordófar, an méid di atá i gcorp ginearálta an aeir sa chuid sin den mhianach;
(b) measfar chun críocha an fho-ailt sin nach bhfuil an t-aerú a chuirtear ar fáil i gcuid de mhianach leordhóthanach chun aer a sholáthar a bhfuil leordhóthain ocsaigine ann mura rud é nach lú ná naoi déag faoin gcéad de réir toirte an méid ocsaigine i gcorp ginearálta an aeir sa chuid sin den mhianach.
(3) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a fhoráil, gan dochar d'fheidhm ghinearálta fho-alt (1), go measfar chun críocha an fho-ailt sin nach bhfuil an t-aerú a chuirtear ar fáil i gcuid de mhianach leordhóthanach chun gás forordaithe (seachas dé-ocsaíd carbóin) atá inlasta nó dochrach a chaolú lena dhéanamh neamhdhíobhálach mura rud é gur lú ná céatadán forordaithe de réir toirte an méid de atá i gcorp ginearálta an aeir sa chuid sin den mhianach.
(4) I gcomhlíonadh an dualgais a chuirtear air le fo-alt (1), tabharfaidh bainisteoir mianaigh aird ar a mhéad atá sé indúilithe a áirithiú (i gcomhréir le comhlíonadh an dualgais sin) go gcothabhálfar sa mhianach coinníollacha oibre atá réasúnach chomh fada is a bhaineann le teocht agus taisleach an atmasféir agus leis an méid deannaigh ann.
(5) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní i bhfo-alt (1) mar ní a cheanglaíonn go gcuirfear aerú ar fáil—
(a) i gcuid de mhianach atá dúnta suas ar dhóigh fhorordaithe, nó ar cibé dóigh eile a cheadóidh cigire le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh, nó atá stuáilte suas;
(b) in aon dramhlann; nó
(c) in aon chuid eile den sórt sin a fhorordófar de mhianach.
(6) Más rud é, in aon chuid de mhianach is gá de réir na bhforálacha roimhe seo den alt seo a aerú, go mbrisfear ar an aerú nó go scoirfidh sé de bheith leordhóthanach chun na gcríocha a luaitear i bhfo-alt (1), beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh a áirithiú, go dtí go gcuirfear an t-aerú ar fáil arís, go mbeidh cosc ar rochtain chun na coda sin den mhianach ionas go dtoirmiscfear ar aon duine dul isteach ann nach mbeidh údarás aige chuige agus nach ligfear do dhuine ar bith fanacht ann ná gabháil tríd ach amháin chun an t-aerú a thabhairt ar ais nó i gcás éigeandála.
Contúirt ó ghás i ndramhlann a sheachaint.
57.—(1) Baineann an t-alt seo le dramhlann seachas—
(a) dramhlann atá—
(i) dúnta suas ar dhóigh fhorordaithe nó ar cibé dóigh eile a cheadóidh cigire le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh ina bhfuil sí, nó
(ii) stuáilte suas; nó
(b) dramhlann eile arb eol nach bhfuil ann—
(i) aon ghás inlasta, ná
(ii) aon ghás dochrach ná aon ghás dochrach ina thiúchán contúirteach.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh ina mbeidh aon dramhlann lena mbaineann an t-alt seo a áirithiú—
(a) go gcuirfear ar fáil go buan sa dramhlann sin aerú atá leordhóthanach, de réir alt 56, chun na gcríocha a luaitear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt sin; nó
(b) go ndéanfar bearta iomchuí chun laghdú ar aon chontúirt go dtiocfadh gás inlasta nó dochrach ón dramhlann sin.
Cumhacht chigire chun a cheangal go bhfeabhsófar an t-aerú.
58.—(1) Má tá cigire ar an tuairim gur gá nó gur fóirsteanach, ar mhaithe le sábháilteacht nó sláinte na ndaoine a fhostaítear, feabhsú ar an aerú a chuirtear ar fáil in aon chuid de mhianach a gceanglaítear le halt 56 í a aerú, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh á cheangal (de réir mar a shonrófar san fhógra)—
(a) nach foláir an t-aerú a bheidh, tar éis tréimhse sonraithe, á chur ar fáil sa chuid sin den mhianach de bhun an ailt sin, a bheith de réir ceanglas sonraithe, nó
(b) go ndéanfar, roimh dheireadh na tréimhse sin, cibé oibreacha a shonrófar san fhógra sin chun an t-aerú sa chuid sin den mhianach a fheabhsú.
(2) Bainfidh forálacha alt 146 maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí le fógra a sheirbheálfar faoin alt seo.
Forálacha maidir le modhanna aerúcháin.
59.—(1) Mura rud é, i ngach cuid de mhianach a gceanglaítear le halt 56 í a aerú, go mbeidh aerú a bheidh leordhóthanach chun na gcríocha a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt sin á chur ar fáil go hiomlán ar mhodhanna nádúrtha, cuirfear ar fáil agus cothabhálfar ar dhromchla an mhianaigh gaireas faoi oibriú meicniúil a bheidh inniúil ar oiread aeraithe a chur ar fáil sna codanna sin go léir den mhianach agus is leor (amach ó aon aerú a bheidh á chur ar fáil ag aon ghaireas faoi oibriú meicniúil faoi thalamh) chun go bhféadfaidh gach uile dhuine a bheidh faoi thalamh sa mhianach aon tráth áirithe imeacht as an mianach go sábháilte; agus aon ghaireas a chuirfear ar fáil amhlaidh déanfar, mura mbeidh sé á ghnáthúsáid chun aerú a chur ar fáil, é a úsáid uair amháin ar a laghad sa tseachtain agus é a choiméad ar fáil i gcónaí lena úsáid.
(2) Más rud é (cibé acu de bhun fho-alt (1) é nó nach ea) go gcuirfear ar fáil ar dhromchla mianaigh ghuail gaireas faoi oibriú meicniúil chun aerú a dhéanamh faoi thalamh sa mhianach, ansin, mura rud é go mbeidh an gaireas sin deartha nó oiriúnaithe, agus feistithe, ar dhóigh go bhféadfar é a oibriú trí aer a bhrú isteach sa mhianach, agus trí aer a ídiú as, cuirfear ar fáil i dteannta an ghairis sin, agus cothabhálfar agus coimeádfar ar fáil i gcónaí lena úsáid, meáin leordhóthanacha chun treo gluaiseachta an aeraithe a dhéanfaidh an gaireas sin a aisiompú.
(3) (a) Féadfar, le rialacháin—
(i) mianaigh d'aon chineál a fhorordófar a dhíolmhú ó fhorálacha fho-alt (1);
(ii) mianaigh ghuail d'aon chineál a fhorordófar a dhíolmhú ó fhorálacha fho-alt (2);
agus féadfaidh cigire, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir mianaigh áirithe seachas mianach guail, an mianach a dhíolmhú ó fho-alt (1), agus féadfaidh sé, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir mianaigh ghuail áirithe, an mianach a dhíolmhú ó cheachtar fo-alt acu sin nó uathu araon.
(b) Ní dheonófar aon díolúine mura rud é gur deimhin leis an Aire nach gcuirfear aon daoine a fhostaítear i mianaigh den chineál lena mbaineann na rialacháin i gcontúirt mhíchuí de dhroim an díolúine a dheonú, agus ní dheonóidh cigire aon díolúine i gcás mianaigh áirithe mura rud é gur deimhin leis nach gcuirfear aon daoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach sin i gcontúirt mhíchuí de dhroim an díolúine a dheonú.
(4) Ní dleathach tine a úsáid le haghaidh aerú i mianach ná ach amháin le toiliú cigire arna thabhairt le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh, aer comhbhrúite a scaoileadh i mianach chun gás inlasta nó dochrach a chaolú nó a thabhairt as.
Cosc le héalú aeir idir aerbhealaí.
60.—(1) Más rud é, i gcás aon dá fhad de phasáistí éagsúla i mianach guail nó mianra shrathaithe eile, gur tar éis tosach feidhme an ailt seo a dhéanfar ceann amháin acu ar a laghad, ansin, murab amhlaidh nach mbeidh (gan aon bhearta a dhéanamh chun an t-éalú aeir eatarthu a laghdú) aon aer, nó nach mbeidh puinn aeir, ag éalú eatarthu, ní dleathach ceann acu a úsáid mar aerbhealach tógála isteach, nó mar chuid de, agus an ceann eile a úsáid mar ais-aerbhealach, nó mar chuid de, mura ndéanfar cibé bearta is gá chun an t-éalú aeir eatarthu a laghdú.
(2) Ní fhágfaidh aon ní san alt seo go mbeidh sé neamhdhleathach úsáid mar aerbhealach, nó mar chuid de, a dhéanamh den mhéid d'aon phasáiste i mianach atá laistigh den achar iomchuí ó éadan oibreacháin a soláthraítear aer dó nó a dtarraingítear aer uaidh tríd an aerbhealach sin.
(3) San alt seo—
(a) ciallaíonn “achar iomchuí”, maidir le héadan oibreacháin i mianach, ceithre chéad is caoga troigh (arna thomhas ó phointe ar bith ar an éadan sin i líne dhíreach ar aon phlána) nó cibé achar eile, arna thomhas amhlaidh (cibé acu is mó nó is lú é ná ceithre chéad is caoga troigh), a chinnfidh cigire, in aon chás áirithe, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh; agus
(b) ní fholaionn “éadan oibreacháin” áit i mbealach a bhfuil réabadh nó deisiúchán ar siúl ann.
Baraiméadair agus uirlisí tomhais eile a chur ar fáil.
61.—Féadfaidh cigire, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar an mbainisteoir, a cheangal air aon uirlis, ar baraiméadar nó teirmiméadar nó taismhéadar í, a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil sa mhianach, agus féadfaidh sé a ordú gurb uirlis de chineál a shonrófar í agus go gcuirfear ar fáil í in áit a shonrófar, agus go ndéanfar léamha a thógáil agus a thaifeadadh tráthanna a shonrófar.
Soilsiú, Lampaí agus Contrabhanna
Soilsiú.
62.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh—
(a) a áirithiú go gcuirfear ar fáil—
(i) soilsiú oiriúnach leordhóthanach (cibé acu nádúrtha nó saorga dó) i ngach cuid os cionn talún den mhianach a mbíonn daoine ag obair ann nó ag gabháil tríd, ag féachaint don solas ó lampaí is gnách a bheith á n-iompar ag daoine a bhíonn ag obair ann nó ag gabháil tríd;
(ii) solas saorga, atá oiriúnach agus leordhóthanach, i ngach cuid faoi thalamh den mhianach a mbíonn daoine ag obair ann nó ag gabháil tríd, seachas cuid nach bhfuil sé inmholta soilsiú saorga a chur isteach ann ar chúiseanna sábháilteachta nó nach gá é a bheith ann mar gheall ar an méid solais ó lampaí is gnách a bheith á n-iompar ag daoine a bhíonn ag obair ann nó ag gabháil tríd nó ar chúis ar bith eile;
(b) a áirithiú go gcothabhálfar go cuí gach gaireas soilsiúcháin.
(2) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal go gcuirfear ar fáil agus go gcothabhálfar soilse breise in áiteanna a fhorordófar i mianach.
Soilse a cheadaítear.
63.—(1) Faoi réir an ailt seo, ní dhéanfar aon lampaí ná soilse seachas soilse ceadaithe a lamháil ná a úsáid faoi thalamh i mianach—
(a) tar éis gás atá sa mhianach ó nádúr a adhaint nó a phléascadh in aon chuid faoi thalamh den mhianach (cibé acu ba chúis báis nó díobhála coirp é nó nárbh ea), ná
(b) tar éis lampaí sábhála glasáilte a chur á n-úsáid, in aon chuid faoi thalamh den mhianach, ar dhóigh seachas mar réamhchúram sealadach;
(c) tar éis ceithre sheachtain a bheith caite ón lá díreach i ndiaidh an lae a tháinig fógra i bhfeidhm a sheirbheáil cigire ar an mbainisteoir á rá gurb é a thuairim nach ceart aon lampaí ná soilse seachas soilse ceadaithe a úsáid faoi thalamh sa mhianach.
(2) Ní dhéanfar fógra faoi mhír (c) d'fho-alt (1) a sheirbheáil ach amháin i gcás inarb eol gás inlasta a bheith sa mhianach ó nádúr tráth éigin i rith na tréimhse cúig bliana dar críoch dáta an fhógra a sheirbheáil; agus bainfidh forálacha alt 146 maidir le tarchur i gcás fógra a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí le haon fhógra den sórt sin.
(3) Más deimhin le cigire nach gá, mar gheall ar nádúr speisialta mianaigh nó coda de, na forálacha roimhe seo a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh sé, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh, an mianach nó cuid de a dhíolmhú ó na forálacha sin.
Rialacháin faoi shoilsiú agus contrabhanna.
64.—(1) Féadfar, le rialacháin, foráil a dhéanamh le haghaidh na nithe seo a leanas:—
(a) déanamh, soláthar, cothabháil, eisiúint, úsáid agus ní ar bith eile i dtaobh lampaí sábhála, gairis soilsiúcháin agus gairis bhraite lena n-úsáid i mianach chun críocha na n-alt roimhe seo;
(b) toirmeasc a chur ar earraí a d'fhéadfadh bladhmadh nó spréachadh a thabhairt isteach i mianaigh, nó i gcodanna de mhianaigh, a fhorordófar;
(c) toirmeasc a chur ar ábhair toite a thabhairt isteach i mianaigh, nó i gcodanna de mhianaigh, a fhorordófar;
(d) modh cuardaithe daoine agus earraí le haghaidh na n-earraí agus na n-ábhar toirmiscthe sin;
(e) fógraí a chur suas ag tabhairt rabhadh do dhaoine faoin dliteanas atá orthu faoin alt seo.
(2) Ní chuardófar aon duine gan an tríú duine a bheith i láthair, agus ní chuardóidh duine ar bith duine eile mura rud é go mbeidh sé, ar an ócáid sin, tar éis caoi a thabhairt do bheirt éigin eile é féin a chuardach agus, má chuardaigh siad é, nach bhfuarthas aon earra ná ábhar toirmiscthe ina sheilbh.
(3) Aon earra nó ábhar toirmiscthe a gheofar de thoradh cuardaigh faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an duine a rinne an cuardach é a ghabháil agus déileáil leis mar a threoróidh bainisteoir an mhianaigh.
(4) Aon duine a bhfaighfear ina sheilbh, de thoradh cuardaigh faoin alt seo, aon earra nó ábhar toirmiscthe, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(5) Aon duine a dhiúltóidh cuardach faoin alt seo a cheadú air féin, nó ar earra a bheidh leis, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus más roimh dhul síos faoi thalamh dó a dhiúltóidh sé, ní ligfear dó dul síos faoi thalamh ar an ócáid sin agus, más le linn dó bheith i mianach a dhiúltóidh sé, ní ligfear dó fanacht ann ar an ócáid sin.
Leictreachas agus Gaireas Leictreachais
Leictreachas agus gaireas leictreachais.
65.—(1) Féadfar, le rialacháin, foráil a dhéanamh le haghaidh na nithe seo a leanas:—
(a) giniúint, stóráil, claochlú, tarchur, agus úsáid leictreachais i mianaigh;
(b) úsáid, déanamh, cur isteach, scrúdú, deisiú, cothabháil, athrú, coigeartú agus tástáil gairis leictreachais agus cáblaí leictreachais i mianaigh;
(c) chun a cheangal i gcás inar mó ná céatadán a fhorordófar (gan a dhul thar aon agus ceathrú) de réir toirte an méid gáis inlasta i gcorp ginearálta an aeir i gcuid faoi thalamh de mhianach, go stopfar an soláthar leictreachais do gach gaireas ach amháin gaireas a fhorordófar;
(d) chun a cheangal go ngearrfar, i cibé imthosca eile a fhorordófar, an soláthar leictreachais do ghaireas faoi thalamh i mianach.
(2) Má bhíonn cigire ar an tuairim go ngabhfadh, nó go mb'fhéidir go ngabhfadh, le húsáid leictreachais faoi thalamh i mianach nó in aon chuid de mhianach, contúirt mhór go bpléascfadh gás nó deannach, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh á thoirmeasc air, nó á shrianadh go feadh méid a shonrófar, leictreachas a úsáid faoi thalamh sa mhianach sin nó sa chuid sin den mhianach.
(3) Bainfidh forálacha alt 146 maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí le fógra a sheirbheálfar faoin alt seo; agus beidh feidhm láithreach ag aon fhógra den sórt sin, má shonraítear é sin ann.
Ábhair agus Deiseanna Pléasctha
Ábhair agus deiseanna pléasctha.
66.—(1) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a fhoráil go dtoirmiscfear nó go srianfar soláthar, stóráil nó úsáid ábhar agus deiseanna pléasctha, nó aon chineál ábhar agus deiseanna pléasctha, i mianaigh, agus, go háirithe, go dtoirmiscfear nó go srianfar úsáid na n-ábhar agus na ndeiseanna sin, nó aon chineál díobh, i gcuid faoi thalamh de mhianach tráth ar bith a bheidh an méid gáis inlasta i gcorp ginearálta an aeir sa chuid sin níos mó ná an céatadán forordaithe de réir toirte agus i cibé imthosca eile a fhorordófar.
(2) Ní dhéanfar aon ábhar ná deis phléasctha a thabhairt ná a úsáid faoi thalamh i mianach seachas ábhar nó deis a sholáthróidh úinéir an mhianaigh.
(3) San alt seo ciallaíonn “ábhair agus deiseanna pléasctha” pléascaigh agus aon earraí atá ceaptha chun mianraí a bhriseadh nó a scaoileadh trí bhíthin pléasctha, trí ghás a fhairsingiú, trí shubstaint a athrú ó staid fhisiciúil amháin go staid fhisiciúil eile nó trí iomoibriú ceimiceach nach dó a bheidh ann.
Réamhchúram in aghaidh Tine
Úsáid leathán braitíse agus criosanna iompair.
67.—(1) Ní dleathach leatháin bhraitíse nach de shaghas a bheidh ceadaithe de thuras na huaire ag an Aire a úsáid faoi thalamh i mianach d'aon chineál a fhorordófar.
(2) Ní dleathach criosanna iompair nach de shaghas a bheidh ceadaithe ag an Aire a úsáid faoi thalamh i mianach, ná i gcuid a fhorordófar de mhianach, d'aon chineál a fhorordófar.
Oibríochtaí múchta tine agus tarrthála.
68.—Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal go ndéanfar cibé socrú a fhorordófar—
(a) chun briseadh amach tine, agus téamh spontáineach, i mianaigh a chosc, a bhrath, agus a chomhrac, agus chun a áirithiú (in atmasféar a mbeadh contúirt bháis ann chomh maith le hatmasféar nach mbeadh) go stiúrfar go héifeachtúil cibé oibríochtaí chun daoine a tharrtháil is gá a stiúradh i mianaigh mar gheall ar thine a bhriseadh amach, nó pléascadh nó tionóiscí eile de shaghas ar bith a tharlú, iontu;
(b) chun ábhar inlasta a stóráil agus a úsáid faoi thalamh;
(c) le haghaidh deiseanna leordhóthanacha chun tine a mhúchadh;
(d) chun comhaltaí aon eagrais daoine a bheidh á chothabháil de bhun na rialachán a thraenáil go héifeachtúil.
Slite chun éalú as seomraí ina mbíonn contúirt speisialta ó thine nó ó ghás.
69.—Ní fhostófar duine i seomra, inlis ná spás iata dá samhail i mianach a mbeidh, mar gheall ar nádúr aon innealra nó gairis a bheidh curtha isteach ann nó aon ábhar a bheidh á stóráil ann, baol go mbrisfeadh tine chontúirteach amach ann nó go n-éalódh cuid mhaith gaile nó gás dochrach ina thiúchán contúirteach, mura rud é go ndéanfar cibé bearta (cibé acu trí dhá shlí amach nó níos mó a chur ar fáil nó eile é) is gá chun go laghdófar fiontar a sháinnithe ann in aon chás den sórt sin nó go bhfuil na himthosca ina bhfostaítear é de shaghas go laghdóidh siad uathu féin fiontar a sháinnithe amhlaidh.
Réamhchúram in aghaidh Deannaigh
Réamhchúram in aghaidh deannaigh.
70.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh a áirithiú go ndéanfar, i ndáil le mianraí a fháil, a chóiriú agus a iompar faoi thalamh sa mhianach—
(a) leathadh aon deannaigh inlasta, agus
(b) leathadh deannaigh de shórt agus ina mhéid gur dócha é a bheith díobhálach do na daoine a fhostaítear,
a laghdú.
(2) Más rud é, i ndáil le haon oibríochtaí nó próiseas a sheoladh faoi thalamh i mianach nó i bhfoirgneamh ar dhromchla mianaigh, go leathfar aon deannach atá inlasta nó deannach de chineál agus ina mhéid gur dócha é a bheith díobhalach do dhaoine a fhostaítear, beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh a áirithiú—
(a) go laghdófar oiread agus is féidir ar a rachaidh san aer den deannach nó ar a charnadh in aon áit in imthosca ina mbeadh a charnadh san áit sin contúirteach nó díobhálach, trí bhearta chuige sin a dhéanamh chomh cóngarach agus is féidir do phointe tionscnaimh an deannaigh,
(b) go ndéanfar aon chuid den deannach a rachaidh san aer a cheapadh nó a scaipeadh ar dhóigh go ndéanfar neamhdhíobhálach é, agus
(c) go ndéanfar aon chuid den deannach nach gcoiscfear ó charnadh in áit in imthosca ina mbeadh a charnadh contúirteach nó díobhálach a ghlanadh suas agus a aistriú, go rianúil, go dtí áit nach féidir dó bheith contúirteach ná díobhálach nó go ndéileálfar leis ar mhodh a cheadóidh an tAire chun é a dhéanamh neamhdhíobhálach.
(3) Féadfar, le rialacháin, ceanglais a chur ar bhainisteoirí mianaigh maidir le húsáid ghairis fhorordaithe agus le déanamh beart forordaithe chun aon chuspóir dá luaitear san alt seo a thabhairt i gcrích; agus féadfaidh na rialacháin a fhoráil go mbeidh a gcomhlíonadh ag bainisteoir mianaigh le glacadh, gan choinníoll nó go feadh méid a fhorordófar, mar chomhlíonadh ar gach ceann nó aon cheann de cheanglais an ailt seo, nó nach mbeidh comhlíonadh na rialachán ag bainisteoir mianaigh le glacadh de riachtanas mar chomhlíonadh ar na ceanglais sin.
Réamhchúram in aghaidh Contúirtí Seachtracha d'Oibreacháin
Dualgas úinéirí agus bainisteoirí mianaigh chun a fháil amach an bhfuil oibreacháin atá as úsáid, sraitheanna uisciúla, etc. sa chomharsanacht.
71.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar úinéir agus ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh—
(a) cibé bearta a dhéanamh is gá chun a áirithiú go mbeidh aige, gach tráth ábhartha, gach eolas a chuirfidh i bhfios nó a thabharfadh le fios go bhfuil nó nach bhfuil, i gcomharsanacht aon oibreachán atá á seoladh, nó a bheartaítear a sheoladh, sa mhianach,
(i) aon oibreacháin atá as úsaid (cibé acu oibreacháin mhianaigh iad nó nach ea);
(ii) aon charraig nó sraith a bhfuil nó ar dócha go mbeadh uisce inti (cibé acu scaipthe nó i gcuasa nádúrtha dó);
(iii) aon mhóin, caonach, gaineamh, gairbhéal, glár nó ábhar eile ar dócha dó sreabhadh nuair a bheadh sé fliuch, agus
(b) cibé bearta a dhéanamh is gá chun aon eolas den sórt sin a dheimhniú.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar an úinéir agus ar an mbainisteoir araon—
(a) tar éis dó aon eolas den sórt sin a fháil, é a thabhairt láithreach don duine eile, agus
(b) tar éis dó aon bhearta a dhéanamh chun an t-eolas a dheimhniú, sonraí na mbeart a rinneadh, agus aon ní ar ar cinneadh de bharr a ndéanta a chur in iúl don duine eile.
Dualgas úinéirí agus bainisteoirí mianaigh chun a fháil amach cad é tiús na sraitheanna idir oibreacháin agus uisce ar an dromchla.
72.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar úinéir agus ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh cibé bearta is gá a dhéanamh, maidir le haon oibreacháin atá á seoladh nó a bheartaítear a sheoladh sa mhianach i gcomharsanacht na farraige, locha nó abhann nó aon lear eile dromchla-uisce (cibé acu go nádúrtha nó go saorga a carnadh é), chun a fháil amach cad é tiús iomlán na sraitheanna atá idir na hoibreacháin agus an dromchla-uisce.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar an úinéir agus ar an mbainisteoir araon, tar éis dó aon eolas a fháil le linn fo-alt (1) a bheith á chomhlíonadh, sonraí an eolais a fuarthas a thabhairt láithreach don duine eile.
Dualgas ginearálta chun réamhchúram a ghlacadh in aghaidh gáis, uisce, etc.. a bhrúchtadh isteach.
73.—Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh cibé bearta a dhéanamh, maidir le gach oibreachán sa mhianach, is gá chun cosc a chur le haon bhrúchtadh gáis ó oibreacháin atá as úsáid (cibé acu oibreacháin mhianaigh iad nó nach ea), nó le haon bhrúchtadh uisce nó ábhair a shreabhann nuair a bhíonn sé fliuch (cibé acu ó oibreacháin atá as úsáid nó ó aon fhoinse eile é), isteach san oibreachán.
Cumhachtaí cigirí maidir le contúirt ó bhrúchtadh gáis, uisce, etc.
74.—(1) Má bhíonn cigire ar an tuairim go bhfuil contúirt inseachanta ann go dtarlóidh brúchtadh isteach in oibreachán faoi mar a luaitear in alt 73 agus nach ndearnadh aon bhearta chun an chontúirt a sheachaint nó nach leor nó nach cuí leis an gcigire na bearta a rinneadh chuige sin, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh ag lua a thuairime agus á rá nach bhfuil aon bhearta déanta chun an chontúirt a sheachaint nó nach leor nó nach cuí leis bearta a rinneadh amhlaidh, cibé acu sin é, agus ag forchur gach ceann nó aon cheann de na ceanglais seo a leanas—
(a) ceanglas go ndéanfaidh an bainisteoir, roimh dheireadh tréimhse a shonrófar, oibreacha a shonrófar chun an chontúirt a sheachaint;
(b) ceanglas nach gceadóidh an bainisteoir, do dhuine ar bith, go dtí go mbeidh na hoibreacha sin déanta, bheith sa mhianach nó i gcuid a shonrófar de (ach amháin chun na hoibreacha sin a dhéanamh nó chun daoine a tharrtháil);
(c) ceanglas go scoirfear, go feadh méid a shonrófar, d'oibríochtaí chun mianraí a fháil san oibreachán go dtí go mbeidh na hoibreacha sin déanta nó nach leanfar díobh ar dhóigh seachas de réir córas oibrithe a shonrófar.
(2) Má bhíonn cigire ar an tuairim go bhfuil contúirt dosheachanta ann go dtarlóidh brúchtadh isteach in oibreachán mar a luaitear in alt 73, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh, ag lua a thuairime agus á cheangal go scoirfear go buan d'oibríochtaí chun mianraí a fháil san oibreachán agus, más cuí leis an gcigire é, ag forchur, ina theannta sin, ceachtar de na ceanglais seo a leanas nó iad araon—
(a) ceanglas go ndéanfaidh an bainisteoir, roimh dheireadh tréimhse a shonrófar, oibreacha a shonrófar chun an chuid eile den mhianach a chosaint,
(b) ceanglas nach gceadóidh an bainisteoir, go dtí go mbeidh na hoibreacha sin déanta, do dhuine ar bith a bheith sa mhianach nó i gcuid a shonrófar de (ach amháin chun na hoibreacha a dhéanamh nó chun daoine a tharrtháil).
(3) Bainfidh forálacha alt 146 maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí le fógra a sheirbheálfar faoin alt seo; agus beidh feidhm láithreach ag aon fhógra den sórt sin, má shonraítear é sin ann.
Dualgais Oifigeach agus Oibrithe i gCás Contúirte
Oibrithe a thabhairt amach i gcás contúirte.
75.—(1) Más rud é tráth ar bith go bhfaighidh an duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire i gceannas an mhianaigh, nó aon choda de, amach go bhfuil an mianach nó aon áit ann contúirteach toisc gáis inlasta nó dochracha a bheith ann go leitheadúil, nó ar chúis ar bith eile, tabharfar gach oibrí amach as an mianach nó as an áit a fuarthas a bheith contúirteach, agus déanfaidh ionadaí, nó duine inniúil eile a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin ag an mbainisteoir, an mianach nó an áit a fuarthas a bheith contúirteach a scrúdú agus, más ó ghás inlasta a thagann an chontúirt, scrúdóidh sé an mianach nó an áit le lampa sábhála glasáilte, agus i ngach cás tabharfaidh sé tuarascáil bheacht iomlán ar staid an mhianaigh nó na háite.
(2) Ní ligfear d'oibrí, ach amháin sa mhéid gur gá sin chun fiosrú a dhéanamh faoi chúis na contúirte nó chun í a chur ar ceal, nó chun taiscealadh a dhéanamh, dul isteach arís sa mhianach nó san áit a fuarthas a bheith contúirteach, go dtí go bhfaighfear tuairisc nach bhfuil contúirt ag baint leis.
(3) Chun críocha an ailt seo, measfar áit a bheith contúirteach más rud é nach bhfuil an méid gáis inlasta atá i gcorp ginearálta an aeir san áit sin níos lú de réir toirte ná an céadatán seo a leanas—
(a) i gcás mianaigh, nó cuid d'aon mhianach, inar neamhdhleathach lampaí nó soilse seachas soilse a cheadaítear a úsáid—a dó faoin gcéad nó cibé céadatán is mó ná sin (gan é a bheith níos mó ná a dó go leith) a fhorordófar;
(b) i gcás aon áite eile—aon is ceathrú faoin gcéad nó cibé céadatán is lú ná sin a fhorordófar,
nó más rud é, in áit lena mbaineann mír (b), go bhfeicfear rian gáis ar lasair íslithe lampa shábhála.
(4) Déanfar gach tuarascáil faoin alt seo a thaifeadadh i leabhar ar leith a choimeádfar chuige sin ag an mianach, agus síneoidh an duine a rinne an scrúdú í.
(5) Má fhaigheann oibrí amach go bhfuil gás inlasta ina áit oibre, fágfaidh sé an áit láithreach agus cuirfidh sé in iúl don bhainisteoir nó don ionadaí é.
Innealra agus Gaireas
Déanamh, cothabháil, etc., innealra agus gairis.
76.—(1) Gach ball agus gléas oibre, cibé acu daingean nó sochorraithe dóibh, lena n-áirítear na fearais ancaireachta agus daingnithe, den innealra agus den ghaireas go léir a úsáidfear mar chuid, nó is cuid, de threalamh mianaigh, agus gach fotha a mbeidh aon fhearais den sórt sin ancairithe nó daingnithe ann nó air, beidh siad de dhéanamh maith, d'ábhar oiriúnach, de neart leordhóthanach agus saor ó aon locht follas, agus cothabhálfar iad go cuí.
(2) Féadfar, le rialacháin, foráil a dhéanamh—
(a) chun ceanglais bhreise a fhorchur maidir le déanamh, cur isteach, cothabháil, úsáid, tástáil, deisiú, coigeartú, athrú agus scrúdú an innealra nó an ghairis sin, agus
(b) chun cosc a chur le hinnealra nó gaireas a bheidh déanta contrártha do na rialacháin a chur isteach i mianaigh.
Fálú ar bhaill nochta d'innealra.
77.—(1) Faoi réir an ailt seo, déanfar gach roth luastair, agus gach ball nocht eile atá contúirteach, d'aon innealra a úsáidfear mar chuid, nó is cuid, de threalamh mianaigh a fhálú go daingean.
(2) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal go gcuirfear an fálú ar fáil ar mhodh a fhorordófar.
(3) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh a áirithiú go ndéanfar fálú a chuirfear ar fáil de bhun an ailt seo a chothabháil go cuí agus go gcoimeádfar ina ionad é le linn na mball is gá a fhálú a bheith ag gluaiseacht nó in úsáid, ach amháin nuair a nochtfar na baill sin le haghaidh scrúdú nó coigeartú is gá a dhéanamh le linn iad a bheith ag gluaiseacht nó in úsáid agus go gcomhlíonfar na coinníollacha uile a fhorordófar.
Innill faoi thalamh.
78.—Ní dhéanfar aon inneall dócháin inmhéanaigh, coire gaile ná inneall gluaiste a úsáid faoi thalamh i mianach ach amháin de réir mar a fhorordófar nó le toiliú an Aire nó cigire.
Coimeádáin aeir, gháis agus ghaile.
79.—(1) Gach gaireas a úsáidfear mar chuid, nó is cuid, de threalamh mianaigh, agus ar gaireas é ina bhfuil, nó a tháirgeann, aer, gás nó gal faoi bhrú is mó ná brú an aeir, ní foláir é a bheith déanta, curtha isteach, á chothabháil agus á úsáid ar dhóigh go gcuirfear ar ceal aon bhaol ó thine, óna bhriseadh as a chéile, óna phléascadh nó óna thitim i ngabhal a chéile, nó ó tháirgeadh gás dochrach.
(2) Féadfar, le rialáchain, cur isteach aon ghairis den sórt sin in áiteanna a fhorordófar a thoirmeasc, agus a cheangal go dtabharfar tuarascálacha ar thorthaí scrúdaithe a dhéanfar air de bhun rialachán faoi alt 76.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire a cheangal, tráth ar bith, go mbeidh scrúdú le déanamh ag duine a ainmneoidh sé ar aon ghaireas den sórt sin i mianach, agus tabharfaidh bainisteoir an mhianaigh na saoráidí is gá le haghaidh an scrúdaithe, agus más léir, de thoradh an scrúdaithe, go raibh aon tuarascáil neamhdhóthanach nó neamhchruinn i sonra ábhartha, beidh costas an scrúdaithe faoin bhfo-alt seo inghnóthaithe ag an Aire ó úinéir an mhianaigh.
Ualú craenacha, etc.
80.—(1) Marcálfar go soiléir ar gach craein, crúbaire tógála, agus crangaid a úsáidfear mar chuid, nó is cuid, de threalamh mianaigh, an t-ualach nó na hualaí oibre sabháilte dó, ach amháin, i gcás géag-chraein a bheidh déanta ar dhóigh gur féidir an t-ualach oibre sábháilte a athrú tríd an ngéag a ardú nó a ísliú, go mbeidh ceangailte di treoir uathoibreach d'ualaí oibre sábháilte nó tábla a thaispeánfaidh na hualaí oibre sábháilte de réir claonta na géige nó gathanna an ualaigh.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith, ach amháin le haghaidh tástála, aon chraein, crúbaire tógála ná crangaid den sórt sin a ualú thar an ualach oibre sábháilte a bheidh marcáilte nó taispeánta amhlaidh.
(3) Ní bhainfidh an t-alt seo le gaireas tochrais a bheidh i sloc, nó i slocán, mianaigh, ná le haon ghaireas róptharlaithe, agus féadfar, le rialacháin, a fhoráil nach mbainfidh an t-alt seo le haon ghaireas eile de chineál a fhorordófar.
Gabhdáin stórála agus crannóga.
81.—Ní rachaidh aon duine isteach, ná ní ligfear dó dul isteach, tráth ar bith, in aon ghabhdán stórála ná crannóg a dtarraingítear ábhar as a íochtar, fad a bheidh ábhar stóráilte ann, mura rud é go mbeidh an dara duine i láthair i gcónaí agus go nglacfar cúram oiriúnach in aghaidh contúirt ó ábhar géillteach. Cuirfidh an t-úinéir nó an bainisteoir ar fáil, nuair is gá é, línte tarrthála do dhaoine a fhostaítear agus beidh de dhualgas ar na daoine sin na línte tarrthála sin a chaitheamh i gcónaí nuair a chuirfeadh sé leis an tsábháilteacht iad a bheith á gcaitheamh acu.
Foirgnimh, Déanmhais, Rochtain, etc.
Foirgnimh agus déanmhais a choimeád sábháilte.
82.—Déanfar gach foirgneamh agus déanmhas ar dhromchla mianaigh a choimeád i staid shábháilte.
Rochtain shábháilte agus córacha fostaíochta sábháilte.
83.—(1) Cuirfear ar fáil agus cothabhálfar caoi shábháilte rochtana ar gach áit i bhfoirgneamh nó i ndéanmhas, nó ar fhoirgneamh nó déanmhas, ar dhromchla mianaigh, arb áit é a mbeidh ar aon duine obair a dhéanamh ann tráth ar bith.
(2) I gcás ina mbeidh ar dhuine obair a dhéanamh in aon áit de shórt ar bhaol dó titim síos uaidh achar is mó ná deich dtroigh, ansin, murab áit é a bhfuil teannta daingean coise aige agus, nuair is gá é, greim daingean láimhe, cuirfear ar fáil, trí fhálú nó eile, cóir chun a áirithiú go mbeidh sé sábháilte.
Traenáil agus Araíonacht
Srian le daoine neamhoilte do dhéanamh oibre.
84.—Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh a áirithiú nach bhfostófar aon duine ann ar aon obair ar dhóigh seachas faoi theagasc agus maoirseacht duine éigin atá inniúil ar theagasc a thabhairt i ndéanamh na hoibre sin agus ar a maoirsiú, mura rud é go bhfuil an duine a fhostófar amhlaidh tar éis teagasc leordhóthanach, agus, más gá é, traenáil leordhóthanach, a fháil san obair sin agus go bhfuil sé inniúil ar é a dhéanamh gan mhaoirseacht.
Garchabhair
Garchabhair.
85.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh a áirithiú go gcuirfear ar fáil ann saoráidí agus trealamh atá leordhóthanach chun garchabhair a thabhairt do dhaoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach, agus, le linn dóibh bheith ar fostú amhlaidh, a mbainfidh díobháil choirp dóibh nó a dtiocfaidh breoiteacht orthu.
(2) Féadfar, le rialacháin, chun críocha an ailt seo—
(a) a chinneadh cad iad na saoráidí agus an trealamh atá leordhóthanach do mhianaigh d'aon chineál,
(b) a cheangal go mbeidh daoine a fuair traenáil ar chóireáil gharchabhrach ag freastal i mianaigh le linn uaire oibre, agus go ndéanfar agus go gcuirfear i gcrích i mianaigh—
(i) maidir le daoine a mbainfidh díobháil choirp dóibh nó a dtiocfaidh breoiteacht orthu le linn dóibh bheith ar fostú faoi thalamh iontu, socruithe a fhorordófar lena n-iompar ón áit inar bhain an díobháil dóibh nó inar tháinig an bhreoiteacht orthu go dtí an dromchla, agus
(ii) maidir le daoine a mbainfidh díobháil choirp dóibh nó a dtiocfaidh breoiteacht orthu, le linn dóibh bheith ar fostú iontu (cibé acu os cionn talún nó faoi thalamh é), socruithe a fhorordófar lena n-iompar, nuair is gá sin, go dtí ospidéil nó go dtí a dtithe féin.
Meáchain Róthroma
Meáchain róthroma a ardú.
86.—(1) Ní fhostófar duine chun aon ualach a ardú, a iompar ná a aistriú a bheidh chomh trom sin gur dóigh dó díobháil a dhéanamh dó.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Sláinte, rialacháin a dhéanamh ag forordú na meáchan uasta a fhéadfaidh daoine a fhostaítear i mianaigh a ardú, a iompar nó a aistriú, agus féadfar, le haon rialacháin den sórt sin, meáchain éagsúla a fhorordú in imthosca éagsúla, agus féadfaidh na rialacháin baint le daoine i gcoitinne nó le haon aicme daoine nó le daoine a fhostaítear in aon chineál nó sórt mianaigh nó in aon phróiseas.
Forálacha um Leas Ginearálta
Leithris sláintíochta.
87.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh a áirithiú go gcuirfear ar fáil ann (faoi thalamh agus os cionn talún) leithris leordhóthanacha oirúnacha sláintíochta le haghaidh a n-úsáidte ag daoine a fhostaítear ann.
(2) Má bhíonn idir fhireannaigh agus bhaineannaigh ar fostú, nó le bheith ar fostú, beidh cóiríocht ar leith d'fhireannaigh agus do bhaineannaigh sna leithris.
(3) Déanfar gach leithreas sláintíochta a chuirfear ar fáil amhlaidh a choimeád glan agus a chothabháil go cuí, agus déanfar socrú réasúnach chun iad a shoilsiú.
Bearta in aghaidh míolra agus feithidí.
1919, c. 72.
88.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar úinéir gach mianaigh cibé bearta is gá a dhéanamh chun a áirithiú go gcoimeádfar gach cuid faoi thalamh den mhianach saor ó fhrancaigh agus ó lucha, agus féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal ar úinéirí mianach bearta a dhéanamh chun feithidí nó aon chineál feithidí a fhorordófar a dhíothú faoi thalamh nó chun codanna faoi thalamh de mhianaigh a choimeád saor ar dhóigh eile ó fheithidí nó ó aon chineál feithidí a fhorordófar.
(2) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní san alt seo mar ní a chuireann an Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, ó fheidhm maidir le codanna faoi thalamh de na mianaigh.
Uisce óil.
89.—Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh leorsholáthar d'uisce óil a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil, le haghaidh úsáid daoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach, ag pointí oiriúnacha a mbeidh rochtain orthu go caothúil ag gach duine den sórt sin.
Rialacháin leasa.
90.—Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal go gcuirfear ar fáil agus go gcothabhálfar, le haghaidh úsáid daoine a fhostaítear i mianaigh—
(a) saoráidí níocháin, lena n-áirítear gallúnach agus tuáillí glana nó córacha oiriúnacha eile le haghaidh glanadh agus triomú,
(b) cóiríocht agus saoráidí chun go bhféadfaidh na daoine sin malairt éadaigh a chur orthu féin lena chaitheamh le linn uaire oibre agus chun éadaí a chaitear amhlaidh agus éadaí nach gcaitear amhlaidh a stóráil agus a thriomú, agus
(c) ceaintiní, nó cóiríocht agus saoráidí (lena n-áirítear saoráidí chun bia a théamh agus uisce a bheiriú) chun a chur i gcumas na ndaoine sin béilí a chaitheamh a sholáthróidh siad féin.
CUID IV
Sábháilteacht, Sláinte agus Leas (Cairéil)
Forálacha chun modhanna sábháilte oibre a áirithiú.
91.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach cairéil a áirithiú go seolfar oibríochtaí cairéaladóireachta ar dhóigh go seachnófar contúirt ó ábhair a thitim, cibé acu laistigh den chairéal nó lasmuigh de é agus cibé acu titim na mianraí a oibrítear nó titim aon substaint eile é.
(2) Cuirfidh an bainisteoir in áirithe nach n-oibreofar aon chuid d'éadan nó de thaobhanna an chairéil ná aon áiléar air ar dhóigh go dtiocfadh aon scéimh amach ann.
(3) Más deimhin le cigire, ag féachaint don chóras oibre agus do staid nádúrtha na mianraí, nach gá le haghaidh sábháilteachta an ceanglas a fhorchuirtear le fo-alt (2), féadfaidh sé, le fógra a sheirbheálfar ar an úinéir, an cairéal nó cuid de a shonrófar a dhíolmhú ón gceanglas sin.
Rochtain shábháilte ar áiteanna oibre.
92.—Cuirfear ar fáil agus cothabhálfar caoi shábháilte rochtana ar gach áit i gcairéal a mbeidh ar aon duine obair a dhéanamh ann tráth ar bith.
Bearta sábháilteachta maidir le feithiclí a ritheann ar ráillí.
93.—(1) Fad a bheidh feithiclí a ritheann ar ráillí á n-úsáid i gcairéal, beidh ar fáil, agus cothabhálfar agus úsáidfear, sa chairéal nó ar na feithiclí, nó sa chairéal agus ar na feithiclí araon, cibé deiseanna sábháilteachta is gá chun cosc a chur le tionóiscí a bhaint do dhaoine trí aon fheithiclí den sórt sin a dhul ó smacht agus beidh gach deis de shaghas a bheidh deartha chun go ngabhfaidh sí go huathoibreach san ionad ina n-oibríonn sí chun na críche chun ar dearadh í, ach amháin i gcás ina mbeidh cúis mhaith chun gan deis den saghas sin a chur ar fáil.
(2) Glacfar gach cúram is gá chun go gcosnófar ar dhíobháil, i gcás aon fheithicil den sórt sin a dhul ó smacht, aon duine a bheidh, ar dhóigh seachas mar chúrsa gnáthaimh, ag obair in áit i gcairéal a ritheann aon fheithicil den sórt sin tríd.
Soilsiú.
94.—Beidh de dhualgas ar úinéir gach cairéil—
(a) a áirithiú go gcuirfear ar fáil soilsiú saorga a bheidh oiriúnach agus leordhóthanach i ngach cuid den chairéal a mbíonn daoine ag obair ann tráth nach leor an solas nádúrtha chun a chur ina gcumas obair a dhéanamh go sábháilte agus i ngach cuid den chairéal a mbíonn daoine ag gabháil tríd tráth nach leor an solas nádúrtha chun a chur ina gcumas gabháil tríd go sábháilte.
(b) a áirithiú go gcothabhálfar go cuí gach gaireas chun soilsiú saorga a dhéanamh.
Réamhchúram in aghaidh deannaigh.
95.—(1) Más rud é, i ndáil le próiseas a sheoladh i gcairéal, in áit seachas i bhfoirgneamh, go leathfar deannach de chineál agus ina mhéid gur dócha é a bheith díobhálach do na daoine a fhostaítear, beidh de dhualgas ar an mbainisteoir a áirithiú go ndéanfar cibé bearta is gá chun na daoine sin a chosaint in aghaidh an deannach a shú isteach.
(2) Más rud é i ndáil le haon oibríochtaí nó próiseas a sheoladh i bhfoirgneamh i gcairéal, go leathfar deannach de chineál agus ina mhéid gur dócha é a bheith díobhálach do na daoine a fhostaítear, beidh de dhualgas ar an mbainisteoir a áirithiú—
(a) go laghdófar oiread agus is féidir ar a rachaidh san aer den deannach nó ar a charnadh in aon áit in imthosca ina mbeadh a charnadh san áit sin díobhálach, trí bhearta chuige sin a dhéanamh chomh cóngarach agus is féidir do phointe tionscnaimh an deannaigh,
(b) go ndéanfar aon chuid den deannach a rachaidh san aer a cheapadh nó a scaipeadh ar dhóigh go ndéanfar neamhdhíobhálach é, agus
(c) go ndéanfar aon chuid den deannach nach gcoiscfear ó charnadh in áit in imthosca ina mbeadh a charnadh san áit sin díobhálach a ghlanadh suas agus a aistriú go rianúil go dtí áit nach féidir dó bheith díobhálach nó go ndéileálfar leis ar mhodh a cheadóidh an tAire chun é a dhéanamh neamhdhíobhálach.
(3) Féadfar, le rialacháin, ceanglais a chur ar bhainisteoirí cairéil maidir le húsáid gairis fhorordaithe agus le déanamh beart forordaithe chun aon chuspóir dá luaitear san alt seo a thabhairt i gcrích; agus féadfaidh na rialacháin a fhoráil go mbeidh a gcomhlíonadh ag bainisteoir cairéil le glacadh, gan choinníoll nó go feadh méid a fhorordófar, mar chomhlíonadh ar gach ceann nó aon cheann de cheanglais an ailt seo, nó nach mbeidh comhlíonadh na rialachán ag bainisteoir cairéil le glacadh de riachtanas mar chomhlíonadh ar aon cheanglas acu sin.
Forálacha ilghnéitheacha chun sábháilteacht do dhaoine a fhostaítear a áirithiú.
96.—Féadfar, le rialacháin, foráil a dhéanamh maidir le cairéil, le haghaidh na nithe seo a leanas:—
(a) giniúint, stóráil, claochlú, tarchur, agus úsáid leictreachais, agus úsáid, déanamh, cur isteach, scrúdú, deisiú, cothabháil, athrú, coigeartú agus tástáil gairis leictreachais agus cáblaí leictreachais;
(b) soláthar, stóráil agus úsáid ábhar agus deiseanna pléasctha;
(c) soláthar agus cothabháil gairis chun tine a chosc agus a chomhrac.
(2) San alt seo tá le “ábhair agus deiseanna pléasctha” an bhrí chéanna atá leis in alt 66.
Feidhm ag ailt áirithe de Chuid III maidir le cairéil.
97.—Bainfidh na hailt de Chuid III a luaitear sa Tábla le cairéil ach tagairtí do chairéil a chur in ionad tagairtí do mhianaigh, agus leis na modhnuithe a thaispeántar sa tríú colún den Tábla.
AN TÁBLA
Ailt a Bhaineann le Cairéil
Alt | Ábhar | Modhnuithe |
69 | Caoi éalaithe ó sheomraí ina mbíonn contúirt speisialta ó thine nó ó ghás. | -- |
76 | Déanamh, cothabháil, etc., innealra agus gairis. | -- |
77 | Fálú ar bhaill nochta d'innealra. | Cuir “úinéir” in ionad “bainisteoir.” |
79 | Coimeádáin aeir, gháis agus ghaile. | Cuir “úinéir” in ionad “bainisteoir.” |
80 | Ualú craenacha, etc. | Fág ar lár tagairt do ghaireas tochrais i bhfo-alt (3). |
81 | Gabhdáin stórála agus crannóga. | -- |
82 | Foirgnimh agus déanmhais a choimeád sábháilte. | Cuir “i mianach” in ionad “ar dhromchla mianaigh.” |
83 | Rochtain shábháilte ar áiteanna agus córacha fostaíochta sábháilte. | Cuir “i mianach” in ionad “ar dhromchla mianaigh.” |
84 | Srian le daoine neamhoilte do dhéanamh oibre. | Cuir “úinéir” in ionad “bainisteoir.” |
85 | Garchabhair. | Cuir “úinéir” in ionad “bainisteoir.” |
86 | Meáchain róthroma a ardú. | -- |
90 | Rialacháin leasa. | -- |
CUID V
Fógra i dTaobh Tionóiscí agus Galar agus a nImscrúdú
Fógra
Fógra i dtaobh tionóiscí áirithe.
98.—(1) Má tharlaíonn tionóisc i mianach nó i gcairéal, a thabharfaidh bás duine a bheidh ar fostú nó a dhéanfaidh díobháil mhór choirp dó, déanfaidh an duine freagrach fógra i dtaobh na tionóisce, i cibé foirm agus le cibé sonraí a shonróidh an tAire, a thabhairt láithreach do chigire agus do cibé duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire—
(a) i gcás ina mbeidh comhlachas nó comhlacht ann a bheidh ionadaitheach do thromlach na ndaoine a fhostaítear, ainmnithe ag an gcomhlachas nó ag an gcomhlacht sin,
(b) in aon chás eile, ainmnithe go comhpháirteach ag comhlachais nó comhlachtaí atá ionadaitheach i dteannta a chéile do thromlach den sórt sin,
chun fógraí faoin bhfo-alt seo a fháil thar ceann na ndaoine a fhostaítear amhlaidh.
(2) I gcás ina dtabharfar fógra faoin bhfo-alt seo i dtaobh tionóisce ba chúis le díobháil mhór choirp do dhuine, agus tar éis é a thabhairt go bhfaighidh an duine díobhálaithe bás, déanfaidh an duine freagrach, chomh luath is a gheobhaidh sé fios a bháis, fógra ina thaobh a thabhairt do chigire agus don duine a bheidh ainmnithe amhlaidh.
(3) Má tharlaíonn tionóisc lena mbaineann an t-alt seo do dhuine a bheidh ar fostú i mianach nó i gcairéal agus nach é úinéir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil fostóir iarbhír an duine sin, beidh an fostóir iarbhír ciontach i gcion má mhainníonn sé an tionóisc a chur in iúl láithreach don duine freagrach.
Cumhacht chun forálacha maidir le fógra i dtaobh tionóiscí a leathnú ionas go mbainfidh le teagmhais chontúirteacha eile.
99.—(1) Má bhíonn an tAire ar an tuairim go bhfuil aon chineál speisialta teagmhas i mianaigh nó i gcairéil de shaghas atá chomh contúirteach sin go bhfuil sé fóirsteanach go mbeadh fógra le tabhairt faoi alt 98 i ngach cás, féadfaidh sé, le hordú, forálacha an ailt sin a leathnú ionas go mbainfidh siad le teagmhais den chineál sin, cibé acu a thagann nó nach dtagann bás nó díobháil mhór choirp dá ndeasca.
(2) In aon imeachtaí a thionscnófar faoin Acht seo maidir le mainneachtain faoi fhógra a thabhairt i dtaobh teagmhais de shórt ar bith i mianach nó i gcairéal, arb imeachtaí iad nach bhféadfaí a thionscnamh gan ordú faoin alt seo, is cosaint é don duine a chúiseofar a chruthú nárbh fios dó gur tharla an teagmhas agus go ndearna sé gach beart réasúnach chun go gcuirfí teagmhais den sórt sin in iúl dó.
Cumhacht chun feidhm i gcás galar a thabhairt do na forálacha maidir le fógra i dtaobh tionóiscí.
100.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, feidhm a thabhairt (faoi réir cibé eisceachtaí, oiriúnuithe agus modhnuithe, más ann, a shonrófar san ordú) d'fhorálacha alt 98 maidir le tolgadh aon ghalair den sórt a shonrófar san ordú ag duine a bheidh ar fostú i mianach nó i gcairéal.
(2) In aon imeachtaí a thionscnófar faoin Acht seo, de bhua ordú faoin alt seo, maidir le mainneachtain faoi fhógra a thabhairt i dtaobh galar a bheith tolgtha ag duine a bheidh ar fostú i mianach nó i gcairéal, is cosaint é don duine a chúiseofar a chruthú nárbh eol dó go raibh an duine céadluaite tar éis an galar a tholgadh.
Ionchoisne i gcás báis de thionóisc nó de theagmhas eile nó de ghalar.
101.—Nuair a chuirfidh cróinéir ionchoisne ar chorp aon duine a bhféadfadh sé gurbh é ba thrúig bháis dó aon tionóisc, teagmhas nó galar a gceanglaítear leis an gCuid seo, nó fúithi, fógra a thabhairt ina thaobh, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) cuirfidh an cróinéir an t-ionchoisne ar atráth mura rud é—
(i) go bhfuil cigire, nó duine éigin eile atá ag láithriú thar ceann an Aire, i láthair chun na himeachtaí a fhaire, nó
(ii) i gcás nach mbaineann an t-ionchoisne ach le bás duine amháin agus inar chuir an cróinéir fógra faoi am agus áit an ionchoisne chun an Aire in am chun é a bheith ag an Aire ceithre huaire is fiche a chloig ar a laghad roimh am an ionchoisne a thionól, gur dóigh le tromlach an ghiúiré nach gá an t-ionchoisne a chur ar atráth;
(b) má chuireann an cróinéir an t-ionchoisne ar atráth—
(i) féadfaidh sé, roimh é a chur ar atráth, fianaise a ghlacadh chun an corp a aithint agus a ordú go n-adhlacfar an corp,
(ii) déanfaidh sé, ceithre lá ar a laghad sula dtionólfaidh sé an t-ionchoisne atrátha, fógra i scríbhinn a chur chun an Aire faoin am agus faoin áit a dtionólfar an t-ionchoisne atrátha;
(c) ní bheidh aon duine cáilithe chun bheith ar an ngiúiré más duine é a bhfuil leas pearsanta aige sa mhianach nó sa chairéal arb ann nó ina thimpeall a tharla an tionóisc nó an teagmhas, nó a tolgadh an galar, nó má bhíonn sé ar fostú ann nó ina thimpeall nó ina bhainistíocht;
(d) beidh de dhualgas ar an duine a ghairfidh an giúiré gan aon duine atá dícháilithe faoi mhír (c) a ghairm, agus beidh de dhualgas ar an gcróinéir gan ligean d'aon duine den sórt sin dul faoi mhionn ná suí ar an ngiúiré;
(e) beidh na daoine seo a leanas, faoi réir chumhacht an chróinéara chun aon cheist a dhícheadú más dóigh leis nach ceist ábhartha í nó nach ceist chuí í ar dhóigh éigin eile, i dteideal aon fhinné a cheistiú, i bpearsain nó trí abhcóide nó trí aturnae;
(i) cigire nó aon duine eile a láithreoidh thar ceann an Aire,
(ii) aon ghaol nó cara don duine ar i dtaobh a bháis atá an t-ionchoisne á dhéanamh,
(iii) úinéir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil inar tharla an tionóisc nó an teagmhas nó inar tolgadh an galar,
(iv) aon duine a bheidh ceaptha i scríbhinn ag tromlach na ndaoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal,
(v) aon duine a bheidh ceaptha i scríbhinn ag aon cheardchumann, carachumann nó comhlachas eile daoine lenar bhain an t-éagach tráth a bháis nó lena mbaineann aon duine a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal,
(vi) aon duine a bheidh ceaptha i scríbhinn ag aon chomhlachas fostóirí a bhfuil an t-úinéir ina chomhalta de;
(f) mura mbeidh cigire nó duine thar ceann an Aire i láthair ag an ionchoisne agus go dtabharfar fianaise i dtaobh aon fhaillí a bheith ina cúis nó ina leaschúis leis an tionóisc, leis an teagmhas nó leis an ngalar, nó i dtaobh aon lochta sa mhianach nó sa chairéal nó ina thimpeall ar dóigh leis an gcróinéir nó leis an ngiúiré gur gá é a leigheas, cuirfidh an cróinéir fógra i scríbhinn chun an Aire i dtaobh na faillí nó an lochta.
Gan cur isteach ar láthair na tionóisce nó an teaghmhais chontúirtigh eile.
102.—(1) Má tharlaíonn tionóisc nó teagmhas eile (a gceanglaítear i gceachtar cás leis an gCuid seo fógra a thabhairt ina thaobh), ní chuirfidh aon duine isteach ar an áit inar tharla sé ná ní bhainfidh sé le haon ní ann—
(a) roimh thrí lá glan a bheith caite tar éis fógra i dtaobh na tionóisce nó an teagmhais eile a thabhairt de réir na Coda seo, nó
(b) roimh chuairt a bheith tugtha ar an áit ag cigire agus cigireacht a bheith déanta air i bhfeidhmiú na gcumhachtaí a thugtar chuige sin leis na forálacha den Acht seo a bhaineann le cigireacht ag oibrithe,
cibé acu is túisce a tharlóidh.
(2) Ní chuirfidh aon ní san alt seo cosc le déanamh aon ní ag cigire nó le toiliú cigire.
(3) In aon imeachtaí a thionscnófar maidir le sarú ar an alt seo arb é déanamh aon ghnímh é, is cosaint é a chruthú gur ghá an gníomh sin a dhéanamh chun sábháilteacht an mhianaigh nó an chairéil nó daoine ann a áirithiú.
Imscrúduithe
Cumhacht an Aire chun a cheangal go dtabharfar tuarascáil speisialta ar thionóisc nó ar theagmhas contúirteach eile.
103.—Má tharlaíonn tionóisc nó teagmhas eile i mianach nó i gcairéal (a gceanglaítear leis an gCuid seo i gceachtar cás fógra a thabhairt ina thaobh), féadfaidh an tAire, tráth ar bith, a ordú do chigire tuarascáil speisialta a thabhairt ina leith, agus féadfaidh an tAire a chur faoi deara go bpoibleofar aon tuarascáil den sórt sin cibé tráth, agus ar cibé modh, is cuí leis.
Cumhacht chun imscrúdú foirmiúil a ordú i dtaobh tionóiscí, teagmhas agus cásanna galair.
104.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, más fóirsteanach leis é, a ordú go ndéanfar imscrúdú foirmiúil ar aon tionóisc nó teagmhas eile nó aon chás inar tolgadh galar, nó a bhfuil amhras ann gur tolgadh é, i mianach nó i gcairéal agus ar a chúiseanna agus a imthosca.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas maidir le himscrúdú faoin alt seo:
(a) féadfaidh an tAire duine inniúil a cheapadh chun an t-imscrúdú a dhéanamh, agus féadfaidh sé aon duine ag a bhfuil eolas dlíthiúil nó eolas speisialta a cheapadh chun gníomhú mar mhéasúnóir i ndéanamh an imscrúdaithe;
(b) déanfaidh an duine nó na daoine a cheapfar amhlaidh (dá ngairtear an binse anseo feasta san fho-alt seo) an t-imscrúdú i gcúirt oscailte ar an modh agus faoi na coinníollacha is éifeachtúla leis an mbinse chun cúiseanna agus imthosca na tionóisce nó an teagmhais nó an cháis ghalair a fhionnadh, agus chun a chur ar chumas an bhinse a thuarascáil a thabhairt;
(c) beidh ag an mbinse, chun críocha an imscrúdaithe, cumhachtaí uile Breithimh den Chúirt Dúiche le linn don bhinse bheith ag éisteacht ionchúisimh i gcion faoin Acht seo, agus cumhachtaí uile cigire faoin Acht seo agus, ina dteannta sin, cumhacht—
(i) chun dul isteach in aon áit nó foirgneamh agus cigireacht a dhéanamh air, más dóigh leis an mbinse gur gá chun na gcríocha sin dul isteach ann nó cigireacht a dhéanamh air;
(ii) chun a cheangal, le toghairm arna síniú ag an mbinse, go bhfreastalóidh gach duine ar cuí leis an mbinse é a ghairm os a chomhair agus é a cheistiú chun na gcríocha sin, agus chun a cheangal go dtabharfar freagraí nó tuairisceáin ar cibé fiosruithe is cuí leis a dhéanamh;
(iii) chun a cheangal go dtabharfar ar aird gach leabhar, páipéar agus doiciméad a mheasfaidh an binse a bheith tábhachtach chun na gcríocha sin;
(iv) chun daoine a chur faoi mhionn agus chun a cheangal ar aon duine a cheisteofar dearbhú a dhéanamh agus a shíniú i dtaobh fírinne na ráiteas a rinne sé le linn a cheistithe;
(d) lamhálfar do dhaoine a dhéanfaidh freastal mar fhinnéithe os comhair an bhinse cibé caiteachais a lamhálfaí d'fhinnéithe a dhéanfadh freastal os comhair cúirte taifid, agus i gcás díospóide i dtaobh an méid a bheidh le lamháil, tarchuirfidh an binse an díospóid chun máistir fómhais don Ard-Chúirt agus déanfaidh seisean, arna iarraidh sin air faoi shíniú an bhinse, méid ceart na gcaiteachas a fhionnadh agus a dheimhniú;
(e) tabharfaidh an binse tuarascáil don Aire ina luafar cúiseanna agus imthosca na tionóisce, an teagmhais nó an cháis ghalair, agus cuirfidh an binse leis an tuarascáil aon tuairimí is cuí leis a thabhairt;
(f) féadfaidh an binse a cheangal go mbeidh na caiteachais faoina ndeachthas in imscrúdú faoin alt seo agus ina thaobh (lena n-áirítear luach saothair aon daoine a ceapadh chun gníomhú mar mheasúnóirí) le híoc go hiomlán nó go páirteach ag aon duine a gaireadh os comhair an bhinse agus ar dóigh leis an mbinse, mar gheall ar aon ghníomh nó mainneachtain aige féin nó ag aon seirbhíseach nó gníomhaire dó, é a bheith freagrach i gcáilíocht ar bith sa tionóisc, sa teagmhas nó sa chás galair, ach measfar gur cuid de chaiteachais an Aire ag riaradh an Achta seo dó aon chaiteachais den sórt sin nach gceanglófar iad a íoc amhlaidh;
(g) duine ar bith, a mhainneoidh, gan leithscéal réasúnach (a mbeidh a chruthú air féin), tar éis na cáiteachais (más ann) a mbeidh sé ina dteideal a thairiscint dó, déanamh de réir aon toghairme nó ceanglais a chuirfidh an binse air, nó a choiscfidh nó a bhacfaidh an binse i bhfeidhmiú a dhualgais, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná fiche punt a chur air, agus, i gcás mainneachtain i gcomhlíonadh ceanglais chun aon tuairisceán a thabhairt nó aon doiciméad a thabhairt ar aird, má leantar tar éis an chiontaithe den mhainneachtain inar ciontaíodh duine amhlaidh, beidh sé ciontach i gcion eile faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go achomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná deich bpunt a chur air in aghaidh gach lae a leanadh amhlaidh den mhainneachtain;
(h) féadfaidh an tAire a chur faoi deara go bpoibleofar tuarascáil an bhinse cibé tráth, agus ar cibé modh, is cuí leis.
CUID VI
Cigireacht ag Oibrithe
Cigireacht thréimshúil thar ceann oibrithe.
105.—(1) Féadfaidh na hoibrithe a fhostaítear i mianach nó i gcairéal, ar a gcostas féin, beirt duine atá nó a bhí ina mianadóirí nó ina gcairéalaithe praiticíula, cibé ach é, a cheapadh go ceann tréimhse nach giorra ná cúig bliana (agus a bhfuil duine amháin acu ar a laghad ar fostú sa mhianach nó sa chairéal), chun cigireacht a dhéanamh ar an mianach nó ar an gcairéal.
(2) Beidh d'oibleagáid ar úinéir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil a cheadú do na daoine cuí-ceaptha sin (dá ngairtear “cigirí oibrithe” san alt seo) cibé cigireachtaí a dhéanamh ann a bhéarfaidh go bhféadfar cigireacht a dhéanamh ar gach cuid den mhianach nó den chairéal agus dá threalamh uair amháin ar a laghad i ngach mí.
(3) Má tharlaíonn tionóisc nó teagmhas eile i mianach nó i gcairéal (a gceanglaítear i gceachtar cás leis an Acht seo fógra a thabhairt ina thaobh), féadfaidh an bheirt chigire oibrithe cigireacht a dhéanamh le chéile ar an áit inar tharla sé, agus, sa mhéid gur gá sin chun an chúis a bhí leis a fhionnadh, ar aon chuid eile den mhianach nó den chairéal agus ar aon innealra, gaireas nó rud eile ann, agus féadfaidh siad samplaí a thógáil den atmasféar san áit sin agus d'aon deannach nó uisce ann.
(4) Ar aon ócáid ar a ndéanfaidh na cigirí oibrithe cigireacht faoi fho-alt (2) nó (3), —
(a) beidh siad i dteideal aon doiciméid a scrúdú ar gá de réir an Achta seo, nó faoi, iad a choimeád san oifig ag an mianach nó ag an gcairéal nó i cibé áit eile a cheadóidh cigire;
(b) beidh siad i dteideal comhairleorí dóibh a thabhairt in éineacht leo, ach ní bheidh siad i dteideal aon duine acu seo a leanas a chosc ar dhul in éineacht leo—
(i) i gcás cigireachta ar mhianach, an t-úinéir agus aon duine a ainmneoidh sé agus an bainisteoir agus aon duine a ainmneoidh sé;
(ii) i gcás cigireachta ar chairéal, an t-úinéir agus aon duine a ainmneoidh sé agus an bainisteoir agus aon duine a ainmneoidh sé.
(5) Ar ócáid ar bith a mbeidh cigirí oibrithe ag déanamh cigireachta ar an mianach nó ar an chairéal, faoi fho-alt (2) nó (3), beidh de dhualgas ar gach duine a bheidh ar fostú ann, cibé saoráidí agus cúnamh a thabhairt dóibh maidir le hábhair nó nithe lena mbaineann freagrachtaí, faoi seach, na ndaoine sin agus is gá chun an chigireacht a dhéanamh.
(6) Díreach tar éis cigireacht a bheith críochnaithe, ar ócáid ar bith, ag cigirí oibrithe faoi fho-alt (2) nó (3); tabharfaidh siad, i leabhar a sholáthróidh úinéir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil chun na críche sin, tuarascáil iomlán chruinn ar na nithe a fionnadh de thoradh na cigireachta agus cuirfidh siad a síniú léi.
(7) Díreach tar éis an tuarascáil a bheith tugtha, cuirfear cóip dhílis di chuig an gcigire agus cuirfear cóip eile den sórt sin in airde in áit fheiceálach éigin sa mhianach nó sa chairéal agus coimeádfar in airde ann í ar feadh tréimhse cheithre huaire is fiche a chloig.
CUID VII
Mianaigh atá Tréigthe nó as Úsáid a Fhálú
Mianaigh atá tréigthe nó as úsáid a fhálú.
106.—Beidh de dhualgas ar úinéir gach mianaigh thréigthe agus gach mianaigh nach ndearnadh, cé nach bhfuil sé tréigthe, é a oibriú le tréimhse dhá mhí dhéag anuas, a áirithiú go gcuirfear ag an tslí isteach ar an dromhcla chuig gach sloc nó easrais ann iamhlann, bacainn, stuipéad nó deis eile a bheidh éifeachtach agus deartha agus déanta ar dhóigh go gcoinneoidh sé an tslí isteach sin ar an dromchla ó bheith contúirteach do dhuine ar bith.
CUID VIII
Coinníollacha Fostaíochta
Mná agus Ógánaigh
Toirmeasc ar fhostaíocht faoi thalamh i gcásanna áirithe.
107.—(1) Ní fhostófar aon bhaineannach faoi thalamh mianach.
(2) Féadfar, le rialacháin, toirmeasc nó srian a chur le hógánaigh, nó ógánaigh faoi bhun aois a fhorordófar, a fhostú faoi thalamh i mianach.
Toirmeasc ar pháistí a fhostú.
108.—Ní fhostófar aon pháiste i mianach.
Cruthúnas aoise.
109.—Ní fhostófar ógánach i mianach mura ndéanfar, ná go dtí go ndéanfar, deimhniú breithe nó fianaise shásúil eile ar a aois a thabhairt ar aird do bhainisteoir an mhianaigh.
Srian le fostú ban agus ógánach.
110.—(1) Ní fhostófar bean ná ógánach i mianach ach amháin de réir an ailt seo.
(2) Beidh eatramh dhá uair déag a chloig ar a laghad idir tréimhsí fostaíochta.
(3) Ní thosóidh tréimhse fostaíochta ógánaigh atá faoi bhun sé bliana déag d'aois níos luaithe ná a 6 a chlog ar maidin ná ní chríochnóidh sí níos déanaí ná 10 a chlog um thráthnóna.
(4) San eatramh idir na tréimhsí fostaíochta do bhean agus, faoi réir fho-alt (5), d'ógánach nach lú ná sé bliana déag d'aois, beidh tréimhse leanúnach seacht n-uaire a chloig a thitfidh idir a 10 a chlog um thráthnóna agus a 7 a chlog ar maidin.
(5) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, a údarú ógánaigh fhireanna nach lú ná sé bliana déag d'aois a fhostú, i rith uaire forordaithe laistigh den eatramh a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (4), chun teagasc de cibé cineál a fhorordófar a fháil.
(b) In aon chás den sórt sin is é a bheidh san eatramh idir na tréimhsí fostaíochta ná cibé tréimhse, nach lú ná trí huaire déag a chloig, a fhorordófar nó, mura bhforordófar aon tréimhse, cúig huaire déag a chloig.
(6) Faoi réir forálacha an Achta seo, féadfaidh an tAire le rialacháin, foráil a dhéanamh i dtaobh na n-uaire fostaíochta agus na n-eatramh le haghaidh béilí agus scíthe do mhná agus d'ógánaigh a bheidh ar fostú os cionn talún i mianach nó in aon chineál mianaigh.
Clár na mban agus na n-ógánach a fhostaítear.
111.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar an duine freagrach clár a choimeád, in oifig mhianaigh nó chairéil, nó in áit éigin eile a cheadóidh cigire, i cibé foirm a shonróidh an tAire, agus ainm, dáta breithe, agus áit chónaithe na mban agus na n-ógánach go léir a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal agus dáta a gcéadfhostaithe ann a thaifeadadh sa chlár sin i cibé foirm agus modh a shonrófar amhlaidh agus, i gcás ógánach fireann a fhostaítear i mianach, a chur in iúl ann cé hiad na daoine orthu a fhostaítear faoi thalamh.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar an duine freagrach, i gcás gach mianaigh nó cairéil, aon chlár atá á choimeád aige de bhun an ailt seo a thabhairt ar aird do chigire arna iarraidh sin air.
(3) Sula gcéadfhostófar ógánach fireann faoi thalamh i mianach, cuirfidh a fhostóir (murab é úinéir an mhianaigh é) in iúl don bhainisteoir, nó do dhuine éigin eile a bheidh ceaptha chuige sin ag an mbainisteoir, go bhfuil an t-ógánach le bheith ar fostú amhlaidh.
Daoine Fostaithe i gCoitinne
Scrúdú dochtúra.
112.—Féadfar, le rialacháin, a cheangal ar dhaoine atá ar fostú nó atá ag lorg fostaíochta i mianaigh nó i gcairéil dul faoi scrúdú dochtúra agus toirmeasc a chur le duine a fhostú i mianach nó i gcairéal, go hiomlán nó i gcáil áirithe nó ar obair áirithe, mura rachaidh sé faoin scrúdú dochtúra sin nó má fhaightear amach dá thoradh go bhfuil sé mí-oiriúnach ó thaobh coirp nó aigne don fhostaíocht sin.
Teorainn leis na hUaire faoi Thalamh
Teorainn leis na huaire oibre faoi thalamh i mianaigh.
113.—(1) Chun críocha na bhforálacha ina dhiaidh seo den Chuid seo, ciallaíonn “oibrí” aon duine a fhostaítear i mianach faoi thalamh, nach oifigeach don mhianach (seachas ionadaí) ná meicneoir ná leictreoir, ná duine atá ag gabháil go hiomlán do shuirbhéireacht nó do thomhas; agus measfar gur sealaíocht oibrithe aon líon oibrithe arb ionann, geall leis, a n-uaire chun obair a thosú agus a chríochnú sa mhianach.
(2) Faoi réir forálacha na Coda seo, ní bheidh oibrí faoi thalamh i mianach guail nó iarnchloiche srathaithe nó scealla nó cré tine le haghaidh a chuid oibre, agus chun dul chuige agus filleadh uaidh, ar feadh níos mó ná ocht n-uaire a chloig i rith aon cheithre huaire is fiche a chloig as a chéile.
(3) Socróidh bainisteoir an mhianaigh do gach sealaíocht oibrithe sa mhianach an t-am a thosófar agus a chríochnófar ísliú na bhfear síos sa mhianach, agus an t-am a thosófar agus a chríochnófar ardú na bhfear aníos as an mianach, ar dhóigh go mbeidh caoi ag gach oibrí filleadh ar an dromchla gan an t-alt seo a shárú, agus cuirfidh sé in airde agus coimeádfaidh sé in airde ag béal an tsloic fógra feiceálach i dtaobh an ama a socraíodh amhlaidh, agus déanfaidh sé gach socrú is gá chun go gcloífear leis na hamanna sin.
(2) Is é a bheidh san eatramh idir na hamanna a shocrófar chun tosú ar gach sealaíocht oibrithe a ísliú síos sa mhianach agus a ardú aníos as agus chun é sin a chríochnú ná cibé am a bheidh ceadaithe de thuras na huaire ag cigire mar am is gá de réir réasúin chuige sin.
(5) Má tharlaíonn tionóisc don innealra tochrais, nó tionóisc eile a chuirfidh isteach ar ísliú nó ardú oibrithe, féadfar an t-eatramh a fhadú go sealadach cibé méid is gá; ach in aon chás den sórt sin cuirfidh bainisteoir an mhianaigh, an lá céanna, fógra faoin bhfadú agus faoin gcúis ba bhun leis go dtí cigire agus ní mhairfidh an fadú thar cibé dáta a cheadóidh an cigire.
(6) Más éagóir leis an mbainisteoir cinneadh a thabharfaidh cigire faoi fho-alt (4), déanfar, de réir rialachán maidir le nós imeachta agus costais arna ndéanamh ag an Aire, an t-ábhar a chur á chinneadh ag duine a cheapfaidh breitheamh den Chúirt Chuarda don chuaird ina bhfuil an mianach, agus is cinneadh críochnaitheach a chinneadhsan; ach go dtí go dtabharfar an cinneadh sin, beidh na hamanna a cheadaigh an cigire i bhfeidhm maidir leis an mianach.
(7) D'ainneoin forálacha an ailt seo, féadfaidh sealaíocht oibrithe le haghaidh deisiúcháin, chun obair ar an Domhnach a sheachaint, tosú ar a dtréimhse oibre ar an Satharn roimh cheithre huaire is fiche a chloig a bheith caite ó thosaigh a dtréimhse oibre dheiridh, ach ocht n-uaire a chloig ar a laghad a bheith caite ó críochnaíodh an tréimhse oibre sin.
(8) (a) I gcás ionadaí, cliabhaire nó caidéalaí, is é tréimhse is faide is cead é a bheith faoi thalamh faoin gCuid seo ná naoi n-uaire go leith a chloig.
(b) Má bhíonn an obair ar thochailt sloic nó ar ghearradh trastollán ar siúl go leanúnach, ní mheasfar aon sárú ar fhorálacha na Code seo a bheith déanta maidir le haon oibrí a bheidh ag gabháil don obair sin más rud é nach gcaithfidh sé thar sé huaire a chloig aon tráth áirithe ina áit oibre, agus nach lú ná dhá uair déag a chloig i gcás ar bith an t-eatramh idir an t-am a fhágfaidh sé an áit oibre agus an t-am a fhillfidh sé air.
(9) Má éiríonn aon cheist faoin alt seo (seachas in imeachtaí dlíthiúla) i dtaobh aon duine a bheith ina oibrí, nó ina oibrí d'aon aicme áirithe, cuirfear an cheist sin faoi bhráid an Aire, agus is cinneadh críochnaitheach a chinneadhsan.
(10) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, tréimhse ama níos giorra a chur in ionad na tréimhse a fhoráiltear le fo-alt (2) nó le mír (a) d'fho-alt (8) agus, fad a mhairfidh na rialacháin i bhfeidhm, beidh an t-alt seo arna mhodhnú dá réir sin.
(11) Féadfar, le rialacháin, a fhoráil go mbeidh feidhm maidir le haon chineál eile mianaigh ag an alt seo maille le cibé eisceachtaí, modhnuithe agus oiriúnuithe a fhorordófar.
(12) Ní bheidh sárú déanta ar aon fhoráil den alt seo a fhorálann tréimhse ama maidir le hoibrí a fhostaítear ar shealaíocht mura mó ná an tréimhse ama a fhoráiltear amhlaidh an tréimhse ón am a fhágfaidh an t-oibrí deireanach ar an tsealaíocht sin an dromchla go dtí an t-am a fhillfidh an chéad oibrí ar an tsealaíocht sin go dtí an dromchla.
Clár na n-amanna íslithe agus ardaithe.
1919, c. 51.
114.—(1) Ceapfaidh bainisteoir an mhianaigh duine nó daoine chun stiúradh a dhéanamh ag béal an tsloic ar ísliú fear síos sa mhianach agus ar a n-ardú aníos as, agus cuirfidh sé faoi deara go gcoimeádfar clár san fhoirm fhorordaithe ina mbeidh na sonraí forordaithe maidir leis an hamanna a n-íslítear fir síos sa mhianach agus a n-ardaítear aníos as iad, maraon leis na cásanna ina raibh aon fhear faoi thalamh níos faide ná an tréimhse a shocraítear leis an Acht seo, agus an chúis ba bhun leis, agus beidh an clár ar fáil lena iniúchadh ag cigire.
(2) Féadfaidh na hoibrithe i mianach, ar a gcostas féin, duine nó daoine a cheapadh agus a fhostú, cibé acu is sealbhóirí oifig scrúd-mheádóra iad nó nach ea, chun bheith ag béal an tsloic gach uair a bheidh oibrithe le hísliú nó le hardú, le bheith ag faire ar na hamanna a íslítear agus a ardaítear iad, agus beidh feidhm ag na forálacha den Acht seo agus den Checkweighing in Various Industries Act, 1919, a bhaineann leis an scrúd-mheádóir, agus leis an gcaidreamh idir úinéir, gníomhaire nó bainisteoir an mhianaigh agus an scrúd-mheádóir, a mhéid is infheidhme iad, maidir le haon duine a cheapfar amhlaidh faoi mar atá feidhm acu maidir leis an scrúd-mheádóir ach, maidir lena gceapadh, na hoibrithe sa mhianach a chur in ionad na ndaoine a bhfuil teideal acu faoin Acht sin scrúd-mheádóir a cheapadh.
(3) Má chuireann duine ar bith go feasach taifead bréagach sa chlár atá le coimeád faoin alt seo, nó má chuireann sé faoi deara, nó má cheadaíonn sé go feasach aon taifead bréagach den sórt sin a dhéanamh, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
Cumhacht chun uaire oibre a fhadú ar uimhir theoranta laethanna sa bhliain.
115.—(1) Féadfaidh bainisteoir an mhianaigh an t-am a shrocraítear leis an gCuid seo mar am a fhéadfaidh na hoibrithe i mianach a chaitheamh faoi thalamh le haghaidh a gcuid oibre, agus chun dul chuige agus filleadh uaidh, a fhadú, i gcás aon mhianaigh, uair a chloig ar a mhéid sa lá ar sheasca lá ar a mhéid in aon bhliain, agus aon lá a dhéanfar an t-am a fhadú de réir an ailt seo i gcás aon mhianaigh déanfar, chun críocha an Achta seo, an t-am arna fhadú amhlaidh a chur, i gcás an mhianaigh sin, in ionad an ama a shocraítear leis an gCuid seo.
(2) Cuirfidh bainisteoir gach mianaigh faoi deara go gcoimeádfar clár i cibé modh a ordóidh an t-Aire, de na cásanna inar tugadh aon fhadú ama faoin alt seo, agus beidh an clár ar fáil lena scrúdú ag cigire.
Feidhm maidir le mianaigh nach trí shloc a théitear isteach iontu, etc.
116.—I gcás an Chuid seo a chur chun feidhme maidir le mianaigh a dtéitear isteach iontu ar dhóigh seachas trí shloc, agus maidir le hoibrithe nach ndéantar iad a ísliú síos sa mhianach nó a ardú aníos as le hinnealra, cuirfear ligean isteach na bhfear sa mhianach in ionad ísliú na bhfear síos sa mhianach agus cuirfear filleadh na bhfear ón mianach in ionad ardú na bhfear aníos as an mianach, agus déanfar cibé amanna a chinnfidh úinéir, gníomhaire, nó bainisteoir an mhianaigh, le ceadú cigire, mar amanna a fhreagraíonn go cuí do na hamanna a shocraítear chun tosú ar oibrithe a ísliú síos sa mhianach agus a ardú aníos as, agus chun é sin a chríochnú, a chur in ionad na n-amanna a shocraítear amhlaidh.
Forálacha chun a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfar an Chuid seo.
117.—Chun a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfar forálacha na Coda seo, beidh de dhualgas ar bhainisteoir gach mianaigh—
(a) rialacha a dhéanamh chun na críche sin agus na rialacha sin a fhoilsiú trína gcur in airde ag béal an tsloic agus trína gcoimeád in airde ann, agus trí chóip díobh a thabhairt in aisce do gach oibrí a fhostaítear faoi thalamh sa mhianach nár tugadh cóip dó cheana agus a iarrfaidh cóip ag an oifig ina n-íoctar é; agus
(b) an chóir atá riachtanach a chur ar fáil chun na fir a ardú aníos as an mianach laistigh den am a cheaptar leis an gCuid seo.
Oibrí faoi thalamh ar feadh tréimhse is faide ná an tréimhse shocraithe.
118.—Má bhíonn oibrí faoi thalamh i rith aon cheithre huaire is fiche a chloig as a chéile, ar feadh tréimhse is faide ná mar a shocraítear leis an gCuid seo, measfar é a bheith faoi thalamh contrártha don Chuid seo mura gcruthaítear a mhalairt.
Ilghnéitheach
Eisceachtaí speisialta le haghaidh éigeandála.
119.—Más rud é ar ócáid ar bith go bhfanfaidh duine, tar éis am críochnaithe thréimhse a fhostaíochta, faoi thalamh i mianach chun cúnamh a thabhairt i gcás tionóisce, chun plé le haon chontúirt (cibé acu dearbhchontúirt nó contúirt thuarthach í) nó chun déileáil le haon éigeandáil nó le hobair nár críochnaíodh mar gheall ar imthosca neamhghnácha nach raibh coinne leo agus ar gá déileáil leis gan stad ionas nach gcuirfí isteach go mór ar ghnáthobair sa mhianach, measfar nach ndearnadh sárú ar na forálacha roimhe seo den Chuid seo maidir leis an duine sin.
Comhairle a ghlacadh leis an úinéir agus leis na daoine a fhostaítear.
120.—Sula ndéanfar aon rialacháin chun críocha ailt 110, 112 nó 113, rachaidh an tAire i gcomhairle le húinéir gach mianaigh lena mbainfidh na rialacháin agus le haon chomhlachas is dóigh leis a bheith ionadaitheach do dhaoine a fhostaítear agus a mbainfidh na rialacháin leo.
Forlíontach.
121.—Chun críocha na Coda seo, measfar duine a bheidh ar fostú faoi thalamh i mianach a bheith ar fostú amhlaidh i gcaitheamh na tréimhse idir an t-am is gá dó freastal chun dul faoi thalamh agus an t-am a fhillfidh sé ar an dromchla.
CUID IX
Taifid, Tuairisceáin agus Eolas
Foirm na leabhar oifigiúil, agus na taifid iontu a choimeád slán agus a scrúdú.
122.—(1) Gach leabhar a chuirfidh úinéir mianaigh nó cairéil ar fáil, de bhun an Achta seo nó de bhun rialachán, chun aon tuarascáil, taifead nó mír eile eolais a chur ann, beidh sé i cibé foirm a ordóidh an tAire.
(2) Déanfar gach taifead a chuirfear in aon leabhar den sórt sin, nó cóip den taifead sin a choiméad slán go ceann trí bliana nó cibé tréimhse is faide nó is giorra ná sin a fhorordófar do chineál áirithe taifid agus déanfar, go dtí nach gá é a choimeád slán a thuilleadh, é a choimeád san oifig ag an mianach nó ag an gcairéal lena mbaineann sé nó i cibé áit eile a cheadóidh cigire, agus beidh sé ar fáil lena scrúdú ag aon duine a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal sin nó ag duine a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin i scríbhinn ag aon duine den sórt sin.
Fógraí a chur suas.
123.—(1) Gach tráth a bheidh daoine ar fostú i mianach nó i gcairéal, coimeádfar in airde ann fógra a inseoidh ainm an mhianaigh nó an chairéil, ainm agus seoladh an úinéara agus ainm an bhainisteora.
(2) Más rud é, i gcás mianaigh nó cairéil,—
(a) go ndéanfar rialacháin a bhainfidh leis, nó
(b) go seirbheálfaidh cigire fógra faoin Acht seo ar an duine freagrach,
déanfar fógra go ndearnadh na rialacháin nó gur seirbheáladh an fógra a choimeád in airde ag an mianach nó ag an gcairéal gach tráth ar feadh tréimhse a fhorórdofar.
(3) Déanfar gach fógra lena mbaineann an talt seo a chur in airde i litreacha agus in ionaid de shórt go mbeidh sé sofheicthe agus soléite ag na daoine a fhostaítear, agus má shonraíonn an tAire foirm le haghaidh aon fhógra den sórt sin, is san fhoirm sin a chuirfear in airde é.
(4) Beidh de dhualgas ar an mbainisteoir cóipeanna a choimeád, ag an mianach nó ag an gcairéal, den Acht seo agus d'aon orduithe, rialacháin agus rialacha a bhaineann leis an mianach nó leis an gcairéal agus a cheadú do dhaoine a fhostaítear iad a léamh gach tráth réasúnach.
Tuairisceáin thréimhsiúla ó úinéirí.
124.—(1) Beidh de dhualgas ar úinéir mianaigh nó cairéil, má thugann an tAire de threoir dó é, cibé tuairisceáin agus staitistic maidir leis an mianach nó leis an gcairéal, agus cibé eolas eile (más ann) maidir leis, a shonrófar sa treoir, a thabhairt don Aire, laistigh de cibé tréimhse, agus i cibé foirm agus modh, a shonrófar amhlaidh.
(2) Ní dhéanfar aon tuairisceáin, staitistic ná eolas eile a gheofar faoin alt seo a nochtadh, gan toiliú i scríbhinn ón duine a bhfuil an gnóthas á sheoladh aige, ach amháin—
(a) le toiliú an Aire, do dhaoine a shonrófar, arb oifigigh d'údarás Stáit iad, eadhon, Aire Stáit, Coimisinéirí na nOibreacha Poiblí in Éirinn nó Coimisiún na Talún, i gcás inar deimhin leis an Aire gur gá é sin a dhéanamh chun go gcomhlíonfaí go cuí feidhmeanna an údaráis stáit sin, nó
(b) i bhfoirm achomaireachta ar thuairisceáin, staitistic nó eolas eile dá samhail a chuir roinnt úinéirí mianach nó cairéal ar fáil, arb achomaireacht í a bheidh déanta amach ar dhóigh nach bhféadfaí sonraí a bhaineann le gnóthas duine áirithe a fháil amach uaithi, nó
(c) chun críocha aon imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo nó aon tuarascála ar aon imeachtaí den sórt sin.
Fógra faoi thosú agus chríochnú oibríochtaí áirithe mianadóireachta agus cairéaladóireachta.
125.—(1) Tabharfaidh úinéir mianaigh nó cairéil fógra do chigire i dtaobh aon teagmhais acu seo a leanas—
(a) oibríochtaí a thosú chun mianach, síog nó féith, nó cairéal, a oscailt, nó chun sloc nó easrais nua a tholladh i mianach;
(b) mianach, sloc, easrais, síog nó féith, nó cairéal, a thréigean;
(c) i gcás mianaigh, síge nó féithe, dhá mhí, agus i gcás cairéil, dhá mhí dhéag, a bheith caite ón lá a oibríodh é go deireanach chun mianraí nó táirgí mianraí a fháil;
(d) dhá mhí a bheith caite ón lá deireanach a úsáideadh sloc nó easrais;
(e) obair a atosú tar éis tréigin nó tar éis aon tréimhse den sórt sin a bheith caite.
(2) Tabharfar an fógra laistigh de dhá sheachtain tar éis an teagmhas a tharlú.
(3) Más rud é—
(a) go dtréigfear mianach, síog nó féith laistigh de dhá mhí, nó go dtréigfear cairéal laistigh de dhá mhí dhéag, ón uair dheireanach a oibríodh é chun mianraí nó táirgí mianraí a fháil, nó
(b) go dtréigfear sloc nó easrais laistigh de dhá mhí tar éis é a úsáid don uair dheireanach,
ní gá fógra a thabhairt go bhfuil an tréimhse sin caite.
Fógra faoi athrú ar úinéireacht nó ainm mianaigh nó cairéil.
126.—(1) Má athraítear úinéireacht nó ainm mianaigh nó cairéil, tabharfaidh an t-úinéir, laistigh de dhá sheachtain tar éis an athraithe, fógra ina thaobh do chigire.
(2) Chun críocha an ailt seo measfar ainm a bheith athraithe má athraítear litriú an ainm.
CUID X
Rialacháin
Rialacháin.
127.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun aon chríocha de chuid an Achta seo.
(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht a bhfuil anseo roimhe seo, féadfar foráil a dhéanamh le rialacháin le haghaidh aon ní acu seo a leanas,—aon ní dá dtagraítear san Acht seo mar ní atá forordaithe nó le forordú, tionóiscí i mianaigh nó i gcairéil a sheachaint, úsáid feithiclí agus córacha iompair i mianaigh agus na coinníollacha faoina bhféadfar iad a úsáid amhlaidh, sábháilteacht, sláinte nó leas daoine a fhostaítear a áirithiú nó araíonacht chuí a choimeád orthu nó a áirithiú go dtabharfar aire chuí d'ainmhithe a úsáidtear i mianaigh nó i gcairéil agus go gcuirfear cóir chuí orthu.
(3) I gcás foráil a bheith san Acht seo i dtaobh ní ar bith, ní oibreoidh sé sin chun cosc a chur le rialacháin a dhéanamh (i gcomhréir leis an bhforáil sin) i dtaobh an ní sin.
(4) Féadfaidh baint a bheith ag rialacháin, faoi réir aon fhorála sainráite contrártha dó sin, le mianaigh nó le cairéil go ginearálta, le mianaigh nó cairéil de chineál a shonrófar, nó le mianach nó cairéal áirithe.
(5) Féadfaidh rialacháin—
(a) foráil éagsúil a dhéanamh i dtaobh cineálacha éagsúla mianach nó cairéal nó i dtaobh foranna éagsúla de chineál agus i dtaobh codanna éagsúla de mhianach nó de chairéal;
(b) díolúintí a thabhairt, nó socrú a dhéanamh chun iad a thabhairt, ó aon fhorálacha sna rialacháin;
(c) foráil a dhéanamh le haghaidh aon nithe foghabhálacha nó forlíontacha ar cuí leis an Aire foráil a dhéanamh lena n-aghaidh.
(6) Beidh feidhm ag an Dara Sceideal maidir leis an nós imeachta chun rialacháin a dhéanamh.
CUID XI
Scrúd-mheáchan ag Mianaigh Ghuail
Scrúd-mheáchan guail.
1919, c. 51.
128.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag an Checkweighing in Various Industries Act, 1919, maidir le gual a fháil ó mhianaigh ghuail.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire an chumhacht chun rialacháin a dhéanamh faoi aon fhoráil den Acht sin a fheidhmiú.
Forléiriú an Checkweighing in Various Industries Act, 1919.
1919, c. 51.
129.—Chun amhrais a sheachaint, achtaítear leis seo nach mbeidh éifeacht ag an aisghairm ar an Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, ar an Coal Mines (Check Weigher) Act, 1894, agus ar an Coal Mines (Weighing of Minerals) Act, 1905, a dhéantar le halt 10 agus leis an gCéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, ar ionchorprú, le fo-alt (3) d'alt 2 den Checkweighing in Various Industries Act, 1919, na bhforálacha de na hAchtanna sin atá leagtha amach agus oiriúnaithe sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht sin agus forléireofar an tAcht sin agus beidh éifeacht aige amhail is dá mba chuid den Acht sin na forálacha sin.
CUID XII
Cigirí
Cigirí.
130.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire údarás a thabhairt d'aon oifigigh dá chuid gníomhú mar chigirí chun críocha an Achta seo.
(2) Foilseofar san Iris Oifigiúil fógra i dtaobh údarás a thabhairt faoin alt seo.
(3) Leagfar faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas cibé tuarascáil bhliantúil a ordóidh an tAire ar imeachtaí na gcigirí.
Cumhachtaí ginearálta cigirí.
131.—(1) Beidh cumhacht ag cigire, chun an tAcht seo a chomhalladh—
(a) dul isteach tráth ar bith (cibé acu de ló nó d'oíche é) i mianach nó i gcairéal agus cigireacht a dhéanamh ar gach cuid nó aon chuid de, ar aon ní ann agus ar aon ainmhithe a úsáidtear chun críocha an mhianaigh nó an chairéil;
(b) cibé scrúdú agus fiosrú a dhéanamh is gá—
(i) chun a fhionnadh an gcomhlíontar na nithe seo a leanas, eadhon, forálacha an Achta seo agus forálacha orduithe, rialachán agus rialacha faoin Acht seo, aon treoir, toirmeasc, srian nó ceanglas a tugadh nó a forchuireadh le fógra arna sheirbheáil ag cigire faoin Acht seo nó dá bhua agus aon choinníoll a ghabhann le haon díolúine, toiliú, ceadú nó údarás a thug an tAire nó cigire faoin Acht seo nó dá bhua, nó
(ii) chun aon ní a fhionnadh ar dóigh leis an gcigire éifeacht nó feidhm a bheith aige ar shábháilteacht nó sláinte daoine a fhostaítear i mianach nó i gcairéal nó ar aireachasú nó cóireáil ainmhithe ann a úsáidtear ann agus go háirithe (ach gan dochar do ghinearáltacht a bhfuil anseo roimhe seo) chun fáthanna agus imthosca aon tionóisce nó teagmhais eile i mianach nó i gcairéal a fhionnadh, ar tionóisc nó teagmhas é a gceanglaítear leis an Acht seo fógra a thabhairt ina thaobh i gceachtar cás;
(c) ar dhul isteach dó in aon áitreabh, comhalta den Gharda Síochána a thabhairt leis má tá cúis réasúnach aige chun bheith ag coinne le haon mhór-bhac agus é ag feidhmiú na gcumhachtaí a thugtar dó leis an bhfo-alt seo nó, chun críche aon scrúdaithe nó fiosraithe a bhaineann le haireachasú nó cóireáil ainmhithe, tréidlia cuí-cháilithe a thabhairt leis;
(d) chun críche aon scrúdaithe nó fiosraithe faoi na forálacha roimhe seo—
(i) a cheangal ar aon duine a gheobhaidh sé i mianach nó i gcairéal, nó a mbeidh cúis réasúnach aige chun a chreidiúint go bhfuil sé, nó go raibh sé laistigh den dá mhí roimhe sin, ar fostú i mianach nó gcairéal, freagra a thabhairt, gan daoine a bheith sa láthair seachas duine a ainmneoidh sé chun bheith i láthair agus aon daoine a gceadóidh an cigire dóibh bheith i láthair, ar cibé ceisteanna is cuí leis an gcigire a chur air, sa dóigh, áfach, nach mbeidh freagra ar bith dá dtabharfaidh duine de bhun ceanglas a chuirfear air faoin bhfo-mhír seo inghlactha mar fhianaise ina choinne in aon imeachtaí,
(ii) samplaí a thógáil d'aon earraí nó substaintí a gheofar i mianach nó i gcairéal agus, i gcás mianaigh, den atmasféar ann, agus
(iii) seilbh a thógáil ar aon innealra, gaireas nó earra ar bith eile i mianach nó i gcairéal ar dóigh leis go raibh sé, nó gur dócha go mbeadh sé, ina chúis chontúirte don tsábháilteacht nó don tsláinte, agus a chur faoi deara é a bhaint ó chéile nó é a chur faoi aon phróiseas nó tástáil, d'ainneoin é a dhamáistiú nó a mhilleadh dá dheasca sin;
(e) a cheangal go dtabharfar na nithe seo a leanas ar aird, agus scrúdú a dhéanamh orthu,—
(i) aon chláir, leabhair, pleananna nó doiciméid eile a gceanglaítear leis an Acht seo, nó dá bhua, iad a choimeád, agus
(ii) aon doiciméid eile, ar doiciméid iad atá i seilbh nó faoi urlámhas úinéara nó bainisteora mianaigh nó úinéara nó bainisteora cairéil agus is iomchuí chun críocha scrúdú nó fiosrú faoi na forálacha roimhe seo den alt seo.
(f) a cheangal ar bhainisteoir mianaigh go marcálfaidh sé ar aon phlean d'oibreacháin sa mhianach, a thabharfar ar aird de réir ceanglais faoi mhír (e), staid na n-oibreachán sin, nó an méid díobh a shonrófar sa cheanglas mar a bhí tráth an ceanglas a fhorchur;
(g) a cheangal ar aon duine ar a bhfuil freagrachtaí maidir le mianach nó cairéal (cibé acu an t-úinéir é nó bainisteoir nó aon duine eile atá ar fostú ann nó nach é) cibé saoráidí agus cúnamh a thabhairt dó, maidir le haon ábhair nó nithe a thagann faoi réim na bhfreagrachtaí atá ar an duine sin, is gá chun a chur i gcumas an chigire aon chumhacht dá dtugtar dó leis an bhfo-alt seo a fheidhmiú;
(h) cibé cumhachtaí eile a fheidhmiú is gá chun éifeacht a thabhairt don Acht seo.
(2) Aon duine—
(a) a mhainneoidh aon cheanglas a chuirfidh cigire air faoin alt seo a chomhlíonadh, nó
(b) a choiscfidh aon duine eile, nó a thabharfaidh faoina chosc, ar theacht os comhair cigire nó ar aon cheist a fhreagairt a bhféadfaidh cigire, de bhua an fho-ailt roimhe seo, freagra uirthi a éileamh; nó
(c) a dhéanfaidh, gan cead ó chigire, aon innealra, gaireas nó earra eile a mbeidh cigire tar éis seilbh a ghlacadh air faoin alt seo a aistriú ó mhianach nó ó chairéal, nó é a cheilt nó crioscaíl leis; nó
(d) a chuirfidh bac ar chigire agus é ag feidhmiú nó ag comhlíonadh a chumhachtaí nó a dhualgas;
beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
Cumhacht cigire chun a cheangal go gcuirfear ar ceal contúirt láithreach nó contuirt atá ag bagairt.
132.—(1) Má bhíonn cigire ar an tuairim go bhfuil, nó gur dócha gur gearr go mbeidh, mianach nó cairéal nó aon chuid de, nó aon ábhar, ní nó cleachtas i mianach nó i gcairéal nó a bhaineann le hurlámhas nó bainistí mianaigh nó cairéil, contúirteach do shábháilteacht nó sláinte na ndaoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal nó d'aon duine díobh, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar an duine freagrach á rá go bhfuil sé ar an tuairim sin agus ag tabhairt sonraí na cúise go bhfuil sé ar an tuairim sin, agus ag forchur ar an duine freagrach cibé toirmisc nó srianta nó ceanglais (de shaghas ar bith) is dóigh leis an gcigire a bheith riachtanach chun sábháilteacht nó sláinte na ndaoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal a chosaint.
(2) Ní údaróidh aon ní san alt seo do chigire fógra maidir le mianach a sheirbheáil i gcás ina n-údaraítear le halt 65 nó 74 do chigire fógra a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir an mhianaigh sin.
CUID XIII
Cionta, Pionóis agus Imeachtaí Dlíthiúla
Cionta.
133.—(1) Má tharlaíonn sárú, maidir le mianach—
(a) ar fhoráil den Acht seo, d'ordú a bheidh déanta faoi nó de rialacháin, nach foráil a fhoráileann go sainráite go bhfuil duine le bheith ciontach i gcion, nó
(b) ar threoir, toirmeasc, srian nó ceanglas a bheidh tugtha nó forchurtha le fógra arna sheirbheáil faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag cigire, nó
(c) ar choinníoll a ghabhfaidh le díolúine, toiliú, ceadú nó údarás arna thabhairt faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag an Aire nó ag cigire;
beidh gach duine acu seo a leanas, faoi réir na bhforálacha ina dhiaidh seo den Acht seo, ciontach i gcion, eadhon, úinéir an mhianaigh, aon duine dar thug an t-úinéir ordacháin i scríbhinn de bhun alt 12 inar sonraíodh, nó inar áiríodh mar nithe a bhfuil de chúram ar an duine sin a áirithiú ina leith go gcomhlíonfar, maidir leis an mianach, freagrachtaí reachtúla de chuid an úinéara, nithe den chineál lena mbaineann an fhoráil, an treoir, an toirmeasc, an srian, an ceanglas nó an coinníoll, bainisteoir an mhianaigh agus aon duine a áirítear de thuras na huaire chun críocha an Achta seo mar bhainisteoir air.
(2) Má tharlaíonn sárú, maidir le cairéal,—
(a) ar fhoráil den Acht seo nó de rialacháin, nach foráil a fhoráileann go sainráite go bhfuil duine le bheith ciontach i gcion, nó
(b) ar threoir, toirmeasc, srian nó ceanglas a bheidh tugtha nó forchurtha le fógra arna sheirbheáil faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag cigire, nó
(c) ar choinníoll a ghabhfaidh le díolúine, toiliú, ceadú nó údarás arna thabhairt faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag an Aire nó ag cigire,
beidh gach duine acu seo a leanas, faoi réir na bhforálacha ina dhiaidh seo den Acht seo, ciontach i gcion, eadhon, úinéir an chairéil, aon duine dar thug an t-úinéir ordacháin i scríbhinn de bhun alt 12 inar sonraíodh, nó inar áiríodh, mar nithe a bhfuil de chúram ar an duine sin a áirithiú ina leith go gcomhlíonfar, maidir leis an gcairéal, freagrachtaí reachtúla de chuid an úinéara, nithe den chineál lena mbaineann an fhoráil, an treoir, an toirmeasc, an srian, an ceanglas nó an coinníoll, bainisteoir an chairéil agus an duine a áirítear de thuras na huaire chun críocha an Achta seo mar bhainisteoir air.
(3) Ní bheidh bainisteoir cairéil, ná duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire á áireamh chun críocha an Achta seo mar bhainisteoir air ciontach, de bhua fho-alt (2), i gcion arb é atá ann sárú mar a dúradh maidir le ní a ndéantar freagracht ina leith a fhorcoimeád go cuí don úinéir de bhun alt 25.
(4) Má tharlaíonn sárú, maidir le mianach, ag duine seachas duine a luaitear i bhfo-alt (1), ar fhoráil den sórt a luaitear i mír (a) den fho-alt sin, ar foráil í a chuireann dualgas nó ceanglas go sainráite ar an duine sin nó ar dhaoine d'aicme lena mbaineann sé nó a thoirmisceann go sainráite air nó ar dhaoine d'aicme lena mbaineann sé nó ar gach uile dhuine gníomh sonraithe a dhéanamh, beidh an duine a sháróidh an fhoráil sin, chomh maith leis na daoine a luaitear san fho-alt sin (1), ciontach i gcion, agus má tharlaíonn sárú, maidir le cairéal, ag duine seachas duine a luaitear i bhfo-alt (2), ar fhoráil den sórt a luaitear i mír (a) den fho-alt sin, ar foráil í a chuireann dualgas nó ceanglas go sainráite ar an duine sin nó ar dhaoine d'aicme lena mbaineann sé nó a thoirmisceann go sainráite air nó ar dhaoine d'aicme lena mbaineann sé nó ar gach uile dhuine gníomh sonraithe a dhéanamh, beidh an duine a sháróidh an fhoráil sin, chomh maith leis na daoine a luaitear san fho-alt sin (2), ciontach i gcion.
(5) Ní bheidh bainisteoir mianaigh nó cairéil sa cháil sin dó, ná duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire á áireamh chun críocha an Achta seo mar bhainisteoir mianaigh nó cairéil, ciontach, de bhua fho-alt (1) nó (2), i gcion toisc sárú a bheith déanta ag úinéir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil—
(a) ar aon fhoráil den Acht seo, d'ordú arna dhéanamh faoi nó de rialacháin, ar foráil í a chuireann dualgas nó ceanglas nó toirmeasc go sainráite ar úinéir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil, nó
(b) ar aon toirmeasc, srian nó ceanglas a chuirfear go sainráite ar úinéir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil de bhua fógra arna sheirbheáil faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag cigire,
ná toisc sárú a bheith déanta ar alt 14 nó 26.
Forálacha forlíontacha maidir le cionta.
134.—Má fhostaítear daoine ar bith i mianach nó i gcairéal ar dhóigh seachas de réir forálacha an Achta seo, d'orduithe arna ndéanamh faoi agus de rialacháin, measfar sárú ar leith a bheith déanta i gcás gach duine a fhostófar amhlaidh.
Pionós i leith cionta nach bhforáiltear pionós sainráite dóibh.
135.—(1) Duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion nach bhforáiltear aon phionós sainráite dó faoin Acht seo, dlífear, ar é a chiontú ann go hachomair—
(a) fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur air, más úinéir mianaigh nó cairéil é, duine ar thug úinéir mianaigh nó cairéil ordacháin dó de bhun alt 12, bainisteoir mianaigh nó cairéil nó duine a áirítear de thuras na huaire chun críocha an Achta seo mar bhainisteoir mianaigh nó bainisteoir cairéil, agus
(b) fíneáil nach mó ná fiche punt a chur air murab ea.
(2) (a) Má chiontaítear duine i gcion faoin Acht seo agus go leanfar, tar éis an chiontaithe, den sárú ar ciontaíodh é ina leith, beidh sé ciontach i gcion eile agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná cúig phunt a chur air in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar amhlaidh den sárú.
(b) Beidh cion faoin bhfo-alt seo ina chion leanúnach agus dá réir sin féadfar imeachtaí úra ina leith a thionscnamh ó am go ham.
(3) I gcás inar deimhin leis an gcúirt a chiontóidh duine in aon chion den sórt a dúradh gur dhócha don sárú a gciontófar é ina leith—
(a) bás, nó díobháil mhór choirp, a thabhairt ar dhuine a bhí ar fostú sa mhianach nó sa chairéal ar maidir leis a tharla an sárú, nó bheith ina chúis le tionóisc chontúirteach, nó
(b) aon duine den sórt sin a chur i gcontúirt,
féadfaidh an chúirt príosúnacht go ceann téarma nach faide ná trí mhí (i dteannta, nó in ionad, fíneála) a chur ar an duine a chiontófar.
Cosaint ar fáil do dhuine a chúisítear i gcion nach ndearna sé go pearsanta.
136.—In aon imeachtaí faoin Acht seo a thionscnófar, de bhua fho-alt (1) nó (2) d'alt 133, in aghaidh duine mar gheall ar shárú ag duine seachas é féin—
(a) ar fhoráil den Acht, d'ordú arna dhéanamh faoi nó de rialacháin, ar foráil í a chuireann dualgas nó ceanglas go sainráite ar an duine eile sin, nó ar dhaoine d'aicme lenar bhain sé tráth an tsáraithe, nó a thoirmisceann go sainráite air nó ar dhaoine d'aicme den sórt sin, nó ar gach uile dhuine, gníomh sonraithe a dhéanamh, nó
(b) ar thoirmeasc, srian nó ceanglas a chuirfear go sainráite ar an duine eile sin de bhua fógra arna sheirbheáil faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag cigire,
is cosaint é don duine a chúiseofar a chruthú go ndearna sé gach dícheall cuí chun a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfaí an fhorail, an toirmeasc, an srian nó an ceanglas, cibé acu é.
Gan duine a bheith faoi dhliteanas mar gheall ar sháruithe nárbh fhéidir a sheachaint nó a chosc.
137.—Is cosaint é in aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla chun damáistí a ghnóthú agus in aon ionchúiseamh, sa mhéid go mbeidh na himeachtaí nó an t-ionchúiseamh bunaithe ar líomhain go ndearnadh sárú, maidir le mianach nó cairéal—
(a) ar fhoráil den Acht seo, d'ordú arna dhéanamh faoi nó de rialacháin (nach foráil a fhoráileann go sainráite go mbeidh duine ciontach i gcion), nó
(b) ar threoir, toirmeasc, srian, nó ceanglas a bheidh tugtha nó forchurtha le fógra arna sheirbheáil faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag cigire, nó
(c) ar choinníoll a ghabhfaidh le díolúine, toiliú, ceadú nó údarás arna thabhairt faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag an Aire nó ag cigire,
a chruthú nárbh fhéidir an sárú a sheachaint nó a chosc.
Dliteanas úinéirí mar gheall ar shárú dualgais reachtúil ag a seirbhísigh.
138.—Chun amhrais a sheachaint achtaítear leis seo nach bhfuil úinéir mianaigh nó cairéil saortha ó dhliteanas chun damáistí a íoc mar gheall ar shárú, maidir le mianach nó cairéal, ag duine a bheidh ar fostú aige—
(a) ar fhoráil den Acht seo, d'ordú arna dhéanamh faoi nó de rialacháin, nó
(b) ar thoirmeasc, srian nó ceanglas a forchuireadh le fógra arna sheirbheáil faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag cigire,
de bhíthin amháin go raibh an fhoráil a sáraíodh ina foráil a chuir dualgas nó ceanglas go sainráite ar an duine sin, nó ar dhaoine d'aicme lenar bhain sé tráth an tsáraithe, nó a thoirmisc go sainráite ar an duine sin, nó ar dhaoine d'aicme den sórt sin, nó ar gach uile dhuine, gníomh sonraithe a dhéanamh nó, de réir mar a bheidh, gur forchuireadh an toirmeasc, an srian nó an ceanglas go sainráite ar an duine sin, nó go raibh an duine sin, de bhun an Achta seo nó de bhun rialachán, ceaptha ag duine seachas an t-úinéir.
Dliteanas tuismitheoirí mar gheall ar pháistí agus ógánaigh a fhostú go neamhdhleathach.
139.—Má fhostaítear páiste nó ógánach i mianach nó i gcairéal contrártha d'fhorálacha an Achta seo, beidh tuismitheoir an pháiste nó an ógánaigh ciontach i gcion agus, ar a chiontú go hachomair, dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná fiche punt a chur air, mura rud é gur léir don chúirt gur tharla an sárú gan toiliú, cúlcheadú ná mainneachtain thoiliúil an tuismitheora.
Deimhnithe a bhrionnú, ráitis bhréagacha, etc.
1913, c. 27.
140.—(1) Más rud é—
(a) le hintinn mheabhlaireachta, go ndéanfaidh duine deimhniú arna dheonú faoin Acht seo nó dá bhua ag an Aire a bhrionnú nó a úsáid nó a thabhairt ar iasacht do dhuine eile, nó go ligfidh sé do dhuine eile é a úsáid, nó go ndéanfaidh sé, nó go mbeidh ina sheilbh aige, doiciméad a bheidh chomh cosúil le haon deimhniú den sórt sin gur dóigh dó daoine a mheabhlú, nó
(b) chun go bhfaighidh sé dó féin nó do dhuine eile—
(i) deonú aon deimhnithe den sórt sin nó eisiúint aon dúblaigh de nó aiseag aon deimhnithe den sórt sin nó giorrú ar aon tréimhse ar fionraíodh aon deimhniú den sórt sin ar a feadh, nó
(ii) fostaíocht mar bhainisteoir mianaigh nó fostaíocht in oifig ar gá de réir nó de bhua an Achta seo gur bainisteoir mianaigh a cheapfadh duine chuici, nó
(iii) fostaíocht mar bhainisteoir cairéil nó fostaíocht in oifig ar gá de réir rialachán a mbeidh éifeacht acu de bhua alt 29 gur úinéir nó bainisteoir cairéil a cheapfadh duine chuici,
go ndéanfaidh duine ráiteas is eol dó a bheith bréagach i sonra ábhartha nó go ndéanfaidh sé go meargánta ráiteas atá bréagach in aon sonra ábhartha, nó go dtabharfaidh sé ar aird, go gcuirfidh sé ar fáil, go gcuirfidh sé ar aghaidh nó go n-úsáidfidh sé amhlaidh ar dhóigh eile doiciméad is eol dó a bheith bréagach i sonra ábhartha, nó go dtabharfaidh sé ar aird, go gcuirfidh sé ar fáil, go gcuirfidh sé ar aghaidh nó go n-úsáidfidh sé ar dhóigh eile, go meargánta, doiciméad is eol dó a bheith bréagach i sonra ábhartha, nó
(c) go ndéanfaidh duine go toiliúil taifead bréagach a chur in aon chlár, leabhar, fógra nó doiciméad eile is gá de réir nó de bhua an Achta seo a choimeád, a sheirbheáil nó a thabhairt nó, le hintinn mheabhlaireachta, úsáid d'aon taifead den sórt sin is eol dó a bheith bréagach, nó
(d) i gcomhlíonadh airbheartaithe ceanglais a fhorchuirtear leis an Acht seo nó dá bhua chun aon tuairisceáin, staitistic nó eolas eile a thabhairt nó chun éirim aon ordachán a chur in iúl do dhuine, go ndéanfaidh duine ráiteas is eol dó a bheith bréagach in aon sonra ábhartha nó go ndéanfaidh sé go meargánta ráiteas atá bréagach i sonra ábhartha, nó
(e) go nochtfaidh duine aon tuairisceán, staitistic nó eolas eile contrártha don Acht seo, nó
(f) arna cheangal air faoi mhír (f) d'fho-alt (1) d'alt 131 staid aon oibreachán a mharcáil ar phlean, go ndéanfaidh duine é sin a mharcáil ar dhóigh is eol dó a bheith bréagach i sonra ábhartha nó go ndéanfaidh sé go meargánta é a mharcáil air ar dhóigh atá bréagach i sonra ábhartha, nó
(g) go ligfidh duine air féin go bréagach gur cigire é,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion, agus dlífear—
(i) ar a chiontú go hachomair, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná trí mhí nó fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt nó iad araon a chur air,
(ii) ar a chiontú ar díotáil, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá bhliain nó fíneáil nach mó ná dhá chéad punt nó iad araon a chur air.
(2) San alt seo tá le “brionnú” an bhrí chéanna atá le “forges” san Forgery Act, 1913.
Oibleagáidí daoine a fhostaítear maidir le sláinte, sábháilteacht agus leas.
141.—(1) Ní bhainfidh duine a bheidh ar fostú i mianach nó i gcairéal, ná ní dhéanfaidh sé mí-úsáid, go toiliúil, d'aon chóir, fearas, áis nó ní eile a bheidh curtha ar fáil de bhun an Achta seo chun sláinte, sábháilteacht nó leas na ndaoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal a áirithiú, agus má bhíonn aon chóir nó fearas chun sláinte nó sábháilteacht a áirithiú curtha ar fáil faoin Acht seo chun úsáide aon duine den sórt sin, úsáidfidh sé an chóir nó an fearas.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh duine a bheidh ar fostú i mianach nó i gcairéal, go toiliúil agus gan chúis réasúnach, aon ní ar dóigh dó é féin nó daoine eile a chur i gcontúirt.
Fógraí a bhaint anuas nó a aghlot, etc.
142.—Má dhéanann duine, gan chúis réasúnach, fógra a bheidh de thuras na huaire curtha in airde ag mianach nó cairéal, de bhun aon fhorála den Acht seo nó de rialacháin, a bhaint anuas, a bhascadh nó a aghlot, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná cúig phunt a chur air.
Ionchuiseamh i gcionta.
1851, c. 93.
143.—(1) In aon imeachtaí i leith ciona faoin Acht seo, cuirfidh an Chúirt Dúiche faoi deara, má éilíonn ceachtar páirtí é, go dtógfar agus go gcaomhnófar nóta ar an bhfianaise.
(2) Más rud é, de dheasca tionóisce nó teagmhais eile i mianach nó i gcairéal, go dtabharfaidh cigire tuarascáil speisialta de bhun an Achta seo, go dtabharfaidh duine a ceapadh faoin Acht seo chun fiosrúchán poiblí a dhéanamh tuarascáil, nó go mbeidh ionchoisne cróinéara ann, agus gur léir ón tuarascáil nó ó imeachtaí an ionchoisne go ndearnadh, tráth na tionóisce nó an teagmhais eile nó roimhe sin, sárú, maidir leis an mianach nó leis an gcairéal,
(a) ar fhoráil den Acht seo nó d'ordú arna dhéanamh faoi nó de rialacháin, nó
(b) ar threoir, toirmeasc, srian nó ceanglas a bheidh tugtha nó forchurtha le fógra arna sheirbheáil faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag cigire, nó
(c) ar choinníoll a ghabhfaidh le díolúine, toiliú, ceadú nó údarás arna dheonú faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag an Aire nó ag cigire,
féadfar imeachtaí achomaire in aghaidh aon duine a ndlífear imeachtaí a thionscnamh ina aghaidh, mar gheall ar an sárú, a thosú tráth ar bith laistigh de thrí mhí tar éis an tuarascáil a thabhairt nó an ionchoisne a chríochnú.
(3) Féadfar imeachtaí achomaire in aghaidh aon duine a ndlífear imeachtaí a thionscnamh ina aghaidh, mar gheall ar shárú ar alt 21, a thosú tráth ar bith laistigh de thrí mhí ón dáta a gheobhaidh an tAire fios ar fhianaise is leor leis an Aire chun ionchúiseamh a dhéanamh mar gheall ar an sárú.
Chun críocha an fho-ailt seo, beidh deimhniú ón Aire i dtaobh an dáta a fuair sé fios ar fhianaise mar a dúradh ina leorfhianaise air.
(4) Beidh éifeacht ag fo-ailt (2) agus (3) d'ainneoin mhír 4 d'alt 10 den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, a fhorordaíonn teorainneacha ama i gcásanna dlínse achomaire.
(5) I gcás ina ndéanfar cion faoin Acht seo trí mhainneachtain i bhfógra a thabhairt nó tuarascáil a thaifeadadh, nó ní ar bith eile a dhéanamh, ag am, nó laistigh d'am, a shonraítear leis an Acht seo, le hordú arna dhéanamh faoi nó le rialacháin nó le fógra arna sheirbheáil faoin Acht seo, nó dá bhua, ag cigire, measfar an cion a leanúint go dtí go dtabharfar an fógra, go dtaifeadfar an tuarascáil nó go ndéanfar an ní eile, cibé acu é.
Srian le himeachtaí áirithe a tnionscnamh.
144.—Ní dhéanfar aon imeachtaí i leith ciona faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh in aghaidh aon duine den sórt a luaitear i mír (a) d'fho-alt (1) d'alt 135 ach amháin ag an Aire nó ag an Ard-Aighne nó toiliú an Aire nó an Ard-Aighne.
Dualgas chun torthaí imeachtaí in aghaidh daoine a fhostaítear i mianaigh nó i gcairéil a chur in iúl.
145.—(1) Aon úinéir nó bainisteoir mianaigh nó cairéil a thionscnóidh imeachtaí in aghaidh duine a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo, déanfaidh sé, laistigh de lá is fiche tar éis críochnú thriail an duine sin sa chion sin, fógra faoi thoradh na trialach a thabhairt do chigire, agus, laistigh de lá is fiche tar éis críochnú aon imeachtaí i modh achomharc de dhroim na trialach, fógra faoi thoradh na n-imeachtaí sin a thabhairt do chigire.
(2) Chun críocha an ailt seo measfar gurb achomharc é imeachtaí a thabhairt os comhair na hArd-Chúirte chun ciontú a neamhniú le hordú certiorari.
CUID XIV
Ilghnéitheach
Forálacha maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí.
146.—(1) Bainfidh na forálacha ina dhiaidh seo den alt seo le haon fhógra a sheirbheálfaidh cigire faoi aon fhoráil den Acht seo nó de rialacháin ar úinéir nó bainisteoir mianaigh nó cairéil, agus a ndearbhaítear go sainráite ina thaobh gur fógra é lena mbainfidh forálacha an ailt seo maidir le tarchur i gcás fógraí a sheirbheálfaidh cigirí.
(2) (a) Má dhéanann an duine ar a seirbheálfar aon fhógra den sórt sin nó, i gcás é a sheirbheáil ar bheirt duine nó níos mó, aon duine acu, trí fhrithfhógra a sheirbheálfar go cuí ar an gcigire a sheirbheáil an fógra, tarchur a éileamh i leith an fhógra, beidh sé arna tharchur chun duine nó daoine a roghnóidh an roghnóir ainmnithe (mar a mhínítear anseo ina dhiaidh seo) as líon an chinn sin de na rollaí daoine a bheidh ceaptha ag an Aire faoin alt seo is iomchuí d'imthosca an cháis.
(b) Má bhíonn an roghnóir sin sásta go bhfuil fáthanna speisialta ann a bheireann go bhfuil sé fóirsteanach dó féin gníomhú mar réiteoir in ionad duine nó daoine a roghnófar mar a dúradh, féadfaidh sé a threorú go bhfuil an fógra arna tharchur chuige féin.
(3) I gcás tarchur faoin alt seo i leith aon fhógra den sórt sin, féadfaidh aon duine acu seo a leanas láithriú é féin nó duine a bheith aige ag feidhmiú ar a shon, agus féadfaidh sé fianaise a thabhairt agus cibé finnéithe is cuí leis a ghairm—
(a) aon duine ar ar seirbheáladh an fógra;
(b) aon chigire;
(c) aon chomhlachas nó comhlacht atá ionadaitheach do thromlach de líon iomlán na ndaoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal lena mbaineann an fógra;
(d) aon daoine eile ar dóigh leis an réiteoir nó na réiteoirí éifeacht a bheith ag an bhfógra orthu nó aon chomhlachas nó comhlacht atá ionadaitheach d'aon daoine den sórt sin.
(4) Beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas maidir le neamhniú nó daingniú aon fhógra den sórt sin i gcás tarchur ina leith faoin alt seo—
(a) mura ndéantar aon fhoras ábhartha agóide in aghaidh an fhógra a shuíomh chun sástacht an réiteora nó na réiteoirí, daingneoidh an réiteoir nó na réiteoirí an fógra;
(b) má dhéantar foras ábhartha agóide a shuíomh amhlaidh, déanfaidh an réiteoir nó na réiteoirí an fógra a neamhniú mura rud é go bhfuil sé nó siad ar an tuairim gur féidir freagairt don agóid tríd an bhfógra a mhodhnú, agus sa chás sin déanfaidh an réiteoir nó na réiteoirí an fógra a dhaingniú faoi réir cibé modhnú is dóigh leis nó leo a fhreagróidh don agóid;
agus má dhaingnítear an fógra faoi réir aon mhodhnaithe, beidh éifeacht aige faoi mar a modhnaíodh é.
(5) Chun críocha fho-alt (4)—
(a) i gcás aon fhógra den sórt sin a sheirbheálfar faoi fhoráil den Acht seo, beidh aon fhoras acu seo a leanas is iomchuí d'imthosca an cháis ina fhoras ábhartha agóide—
(i) go bhfuil comhlíonadh toirmisc, sriain nó ceanglais a iarrtar a fhorchur leis an bhfógra, nó dá bhua, neamhriachtanach nó mífhóinteach ar chúiseanna sábháilteachta nó neamhphraiticiúil, go hiomlán nó go feadh méid áirithe;
(ii) go bhfuil aon tréimhse a cheaptar leis an bhfógra neamdhóthanach chun aon oibreacha a chur i gcrích nó chun aon ní eile a dhéanamh;
(b) i gcás fógra a sheirbheálfar faoi aon fhoráil de rialacháin, is de réir mar a fhorordófar a bheidh an foras nó na forais ábhartha agóide.
(6) Ach amháin mar a fhoráiltear a mhalairt go sainráite leis an Acht seo nó le rialacháin, ní thiocfaidh aon fhógra den sórt sin i ngníomh in aon chás go dtí deireadh na tréimhse ina bhféadfar tarchur ina leith a éileamh faoin alt seo nó, má éilítear tarchur den sórt sin laistigh den tréimhse sin, go dtí go mbeidh an fógra daingnithe ag an réiteoir nó ag na réiteoirí.
(7) Ní ghlacfar neamhniú faoin alt seo ar aon fhógra den sórt sin mar chosc ar sheirbheáil fógra úir ag cigire ná, má tháinig an fógra i ngníomh sular neamhníodh é, ní bheidh éifeacht aige ar a oibriú roimhe sin.
(8) Féadfaidh an tAire—
(a) cibé uimhir is cuí leis a bhunú de rollaí daoine as a bhféadfar réiteoirí a roghnú chun críocha tarchur faoin alt seo agus, maidir le gach rolla, féadfaidh sé na cásanna a shonrú a mbeidh sé le háireamh chun críocha an ailt seo mar rolla iomchuí ina leith;
(b) rialacha a dhéanamh chun na tarchuir sin a rialú agus, go háirithe, chun socrú a dhéanamh maidir le costais na dtarchur sin (lena n-áirítear luach saothair agus liúntais a íoc le réiteoirí) agus chun foirm fhrithfhógra faoi fho-alt (2), agus an tréimhse ina gcaithfear fógra den sórt sin a sheirbheáil, a shonrú;
agus féadfar tréimhsí éagsúla a shonrú le rialacha faoi mhír (b) den fho-alt seo maidir le seirbheáil frithfhógraí a bhainfidh le fógraí a sheirbheálfar faoi fhorálacha éagsúla den Acht seo nó de rialacháin.
(9) Déanfar an tagairt i bhfo-alt (2) don roghnóir ainmnithe a fhorléiriú mar thagairt do cibé duine a bheidh ainmnithe de thuras na huaire ag an Aire chun an dualgas a chomhlíonadh a bhainfidh le réiteoirí a roghnú chun gníomhú i gcás tarchur faoin alt seo.
Cumhacht an Aire chun díolúintí ar feadh tréimhse teoranta a dheonú.
147.—Má bhíonn an tAire ar an tuairim, maidir le mianaigh nó cairéil d'aon chineál, nár cheart, mar gheall ar nádúr nó méid na hoibre atá i gceist, nó ar ghiorracht na tréimhse a mhéastar a bheidh na mianaigh nó na cairéil á n-oibriú, nó ar imthosca speisialta eile a bhaineann leo, go mbeadh sé de cheangal forálacha an Achta seo, nó aon fhoráil áirithe de, a chomhlíonadh ina leith, féadfaidh sé, le rialacháin, mianaigh nó cairéil den chineál sin a dhíolmhú ó na forálacha sin, nó ón bhforáil sin, go ceann cibé tréimhse, agus faoi réir cibé coinníollacha, a fhorordóidh sé.
Orduithe a chúlghairm agus a athrú.
148.—Aon chumhacht a thugtar leis an Acht seo chun ordú a dhéanamh, forléireofar í mar chumhacht a fholaíonn cumhacht, is infheidhmithe ar an dóigh chéanna agus faoi réir na gcoinníollacha céanna, más ann, chun an t-ordú a chúlghairm nó a athrú.
An modh chun fógraí a sheirbheáil.
149.—(1) Féadfar fógra a gceanglaítear nó a n-údaraítear leis an Acht seo, nó dá bhua, é a sheirbheáil ar chigire, nó a thabhairt dó, a sheirbheáil nó a thabhairt trína sheachadadh dó, nó trína fhágáil ag a oifig, nó trína chur chuici, leis an bpost cláraithe.
(2) Féadfar fógra a gceanglaítear nó a n-údaraítear leis an Acht seo, nó dá bhua, é a sheirbheáil ar úinéir mianaigh nó cairéil, nó a thabhairt dó, a sheirbheáil nó a thabhairt—
(a) más pearsa aonair an t-úinéir, trína sheachadadh dó, trína fhágáil san oifig ag an mianach nó ag an gcairéal, nó trína chur leis an bpost cláraithe agus é dírithe chuige ag an áit chónaithe is gnách nó is déanaí is eol a bheith aige, nó chuig seoladh ceart poist an mhianaigh nó an chairéil;
(b) más comhlacht corpraithe an t-úinéir, trína sheachadadh do rúnaí nó cléireach an chomhlachta ina n-oifig chláraithe nó ina bpríomhoifig nó trína chur leis an bpost cláraithe agus é dírithe chuig rúnaí nó cléireach an chomhlachta ag an oifig sin;
(c) más gnólacht an t-úinéir, trína sheachadadh d'aon chomhpháirtí sa ghnólacht nó trína fhágáil in oifig an ghnólactha, nó trína chur chuici leis an bpost cláraithe.
(3) Féadfar fógra a gceanglaítear nó a n-údaraítear leis an Acht seo, nó dá bhua, é a sheirbheáil ar bhainisteoir mianaigh nó cairéil, nó a thabhairt dó, a sheirbheáil nó a thabhairt trína sheachadadh dó, trína fhágáil san oifig ag an mianach nó ag an gcairéal, nó trína chur leis an bpost cláraithe agus é dírithe chuige ag seoladh ceart poist an mhianaigh nó an chairéil.
(4) Bainfidh an t-alt seo le haon doiciméad a sheoladh nó a thaisceadh faoi mar a bhaineann sé le fógra a thabhairt.
Deimhnithe breithe.
150.—(1) Más gá aois aon duine a fháil amach nó a chruthú chun críocha an Achta seo, beidh duine ar bith, ar fhoréileamh i scríbhinn a chur isteach a bheidh i cibé foirm agus ina mbeidh cibé sonraí a ordóidh an tAire Sláinte, agus ar an táille cheaptha a íoc, i dteideal cóip dheimhnithe a fháil de thaifeadadh bhreith an duine sin i gclár na mbreitheanna faoi láimh an chláraitheora nó an chláraitheora mhaoirseachta nó an duine eile a mbeidh an clár faoina choimeád, agus déanfaidh gach cláraitheoir breitheanna agus gach cláraitheoir maoirseachta nó duine eile a mbeidh an clár faoina choimeád foirmeacha don fhoréileamh sin a sholáthar saor in aisce ar iad a iarraidh.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire Sláinte, le toiliú an Aire agus an Aire Airgeadais, táillí a cheapadh, le rialacháin, chun críocha an ailt seo.
Comhairle Chomhairleach.
151.—(1) Beidh comhairle ann ar a mbeidh cathaoirleach agus ochtar gnáthchomhalta (dá ngairtear an Chomhairle Chomhairleach san alt seo) chun na feidhmeanna a thugtar di leis an alt seo a chomhlíonadh.
(2) Déanfaidh an Chomhairle Chomhairleach breithniú, agus tabharfaidh siad comhairle don Aire, ar aon nithe a éireoidh as comhalladh, nó maidir le comhalladh, an Achta seo (lena n-áirítear aon tograí ón Aire chun aon orduithe nó rialacháin a dhéanamh, a leasú, nó a chúlghairm faoin Acht seo) agus a tharchuirfidh an an tAire chun na Comhairle.
(3) Féadfaidh an Chomhairle Chomhairleach, de réir mar a mheasfaidh siad is gá ó am go ham, an tAire a chomhairliú ar na nithe seo a leanas:—
(a) a mhéad atá sé inmholta aon orduithe nó rialacháin a dhéanamh, a leasú, nó a chúlghairm faoin Acht seo;
(b) nithe a bhaineann le forálacha an Achta seo nó d'orduithe nó rialacháin arna ndéanamh faoin Acht seo a chur i bhfeidhm;
(c) feachtais sábháilteacha agus leasa a eagrú nó a chur chun cinn i measc fostaithe agus fostóirí;
(d) léachtaí, taispeánadh scannán nó taispeántais a eagrú, póstaeir nó paimfléid a fhoilsiú nó aon bhearta eile ar léachtaí, taispeánadh scannán, taispeántais, póstaeir, paimfléid iad nó bearta atá ceaptha chun fostaithe agus fostóirí a theagasc ar chúrsaí sábháilteachta agus leasa i mianaigh agus i gcairéil agus ar mhodhanna chun sláinte oibrithe a chosaint agus a fheabhsú.
(4) Is é an tAire a cheapfaidh Cathaoirleach agus gnáthchomhaltaí na Comhairle Comhairlí.
(5) Déanfar an chéad cheapachán den sórt sin a luaithe is caothúil tar éis an tAcht seo a rith agus déanfar ceapacháin ina dhiaidh sin ó am go ham de réir mar is gá.
(6) Nuair a bheidh an tAire ag ceapadh daoine ina ngnáthchomhaltaí den Chomhairle Chomhairleach áireoidh sé orthu daoine atá ionadaitheach d'eagrais fostaithe agus d'eagrais fostóirí.
(7) Beidh Cathaoirleach agus gnáthchomhaltaí na Comhairle Comhairlí i seilbh oifige go ceann cibé tréimhse a chinnfidh an tAire.
(8) Arna iarraidh sin don Chomhairle Chomhairleach agus faoi réir thoiliú an Aire, féadfaidh cigire freastal ar chruinniú den Chomhairle Chomhairleach chun aon eolas a thabhairt a iarrfaidh an Chomhairle Chomhairleach d'fhonn a feidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh.
AN CHÉAD SCEIDEAL
Achtacháin a Aisghairtear
Seisiún agus Caibidil nó Bliain agus Uimhir | Gearrtheideal | Méid na hAisghairme |
35 & 36 Vict. c. 77. | Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act, 1872. | An tAcht iomlán. |
38 & 39 Vict. c. 39. | Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act, 1875. | An tAcht iomlán. |
45 & 46 Vict. c. 3. | Slate Mines (Gunpowder) Act, 1882. | An tAcht iomlán. |
46 & 47 Vict. c. 31. | Payment of Wages in Public Houses Prohibition Act, 1883. | In alt 2, na focail ó “nor any person” go dtí deireadh an ailt. |
50 & 51 Vict. c. 58. | Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887. | An tAcht iomlán. |
57 & 58 Vict. c. 42. | Quarries Act, 1894. | An tAcht iomlán. |
57 & 58 Vict. c. 52. | Coal Mines (Check Weigher) Act, 1894. | An tAcht iomlán. |
63 & 64 Vict. c. 21. | Mines (Prohibition of Child Labour Underground) Act, 1900. | An tAcht iomlán. |
5 Edw. 7, c. 9. | Coal Mines (Weighing of Minerals) Act, 1905. | An tAcht iomlán. |
6 Edw. 7, c. 53. | Notice of Accidents Act, 1906. | Ailt 1, 2, 3 agus 5. |
8 Edw. 7, c. 57. | Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908. | An tAcht iomlán. |
10 Edw. 7. & 1 Geo. 5, c. 15. | Mines Accidents (Rescue and Aid) Act, 1910. | An tAcht iomlán. |
1 & 2 Geo. 5, c. 50. | Coal Mines Act, 1911. | An tAcht iomlán. |
4 & 5 Geo. 5, c. 22. | Coal Mines Act, 1914. | An tAcht iomlán. |
6 & 7 Geo. 5, c. 31. | Police, Factories, etc., (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1916. | Alt 10. |
10 & 11 Geo. 5, c. 50. | Mining Industry Act, 1920. | Alt 19. |
10 & 11 Geo. 5, c. 65. | Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, 1920. | An tAcht iomlán a mhéad a bhaineann sé le mianaigh. |
Alt 128. | ||
AN DARA SCEIDEAL
An Nós Imeachta chun Rialacháin a Dhéanamh
1. Sula ndéanfaidh an tAire aon rialacháin ghinearálta, foilseoidh sé san Iris Oifigiúil, agus ar cibé modh is oiriúnaí leis chun é a chur in iúl do dhaoine lena mbaineann, fógra go bhfuil ar intinn aige na rialacháin a dhéanamh.
2. Sula ndéanfaidh an tAire aon rialacháin speisialta, tabharfaidh sé fógra, ar cibé modh is oiriúnaí leis chun é a chur in iúl do dhaoine lena mbaineann, go bhfuil ar intinn aige na rialacháin a dhéanamh.
3. I gceachtar cás, sonrófar san fhógra áit a bhféadfar cóipeanna de dhréacht díobh a fháil agus an tréimhse (nach giorra ná lá is fiche ó dháta an fhógra a fhoilsiú nó a thabhairt) ina gcaithfear aon agóid maidir leis na dréacht-rialacháin a chur chuige.
4. (1) Ní dhéanfar rialacháin speisialta ach amháin ar iarratas ó chigire nó ón úinéara nó thar ceann an úinéara nó ó thromlach na ndaoine a fhostaítear sa mhianach nó sa chairéal nó thar a gceann.
(2) Ní foláir dréacht de na rialacháin atá beartaithe a bheith ag gabháil leis an iarratas.
5. Ní foláir gach agóid a bheith i scríbhinn agus na nithe seo a lua inti—
(a) forais shonracha na hagóide,
(b) na nithe a n-iarrtar iad a fhágáil ar lár, a chur isteach nó a mhodhnú.
6. Breithneoidh an tAire aon agóid a chuirfear chuige laistigh den tréimhse shonraithe ó aon daoine nó thar ceann aon daoine ar dóigh leis go mbaineann na rialacháin leo, agus féadfaidh sé, más cuí leis é, na dréacht-rialacháin a leasú agus, tar éis dó iad a leasú, cuirfidh sé faoi deara, mura ndearnadh fiosrúchán faoin Sceideal seo, go ndéanfar i gcás an dréachta leasaithe mar a rinneadh leis an dréacht bunaidh.
7. Más rud é, tar éis an fógra maidir le haon dréacht-rialacháin (cibé acu dréacht bunaidh nó dréacht leasaithe é) a fhoilsiú, go ndéanfar aon agóid ghinearálta mar a mhínítear anseo ina dhiaidh seo laistigh den tréimhse shonraithe maidir leis an dréacht agus fiosrúchán roimhe sin faoin Sceideal seo maidir leis an dréacht nó le dréacht éigin roimhe sin de na rialacháin nó go dtarraingeoidh an tAire na dréacht-rialacháin siar, ordóidh sé, sula ndéanfaidh sé na rialacháin, fiosrúchán a dhéanamh mar a fhoráiltear anseo ina dhiaidh seo. Féadfaidh an tAire, más cuí leis é, a ordú freisin fiosrúchán den sórt sin a dhéanamh maidir le haon agóid, d'ainneoin nach ndearnadh aon agóid ghinearálta den sórt sin nó go ndearnadh fiosrúchán roimhe sin mar atá ráite.
8. Nuair a bheidh aon fhiosrúchán den sórt sin le dhéanamh maidir le haon dréacht-rialacháin, beidh éifeacht maidir leis an bhfiosrúchán ag na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) ceapfaidh an tAire duine inniúil nó daoine inniúla chun an fiosrúchán a dhéanamh agus tuarascáil a thabhairt dó air,
(b) déanfar an fiosrúchán go poiblí, agus féadfaidh aon chigire agus aon agóideoir, agus aon duine eile ar dóigh leis an duine a bheidh ag déanamh an fhiosrúcháin nó, má bhíonn níos mó ná duine amháin den sórt sin ann, leis an duine a bheidh i gceannas an fhiosrúcháin, go mbaineann na dréacht-rialacháin leis, láithriú ag an bhfiosrúchán go pearsanta nó trí abhcóide, aturnae nó gníomhaire,
(c) féadfar, más cuí leis an duine a bheidh ag déanamh, nó i gceannas, an fhiosrúcháin é, na finnéithe a cheistiú faoi mhionn (agus cumhachtaítear leis seo don duine sin iad a chur faoi mhionn),
(d) faoi réir a bhfuil ráite, déanfar an fiosrúchán agus na himeachtaí uile roimhe agus i leith leis a sheoladh do réir rialacha arna ndéanamh ag an Aire, agus féadfaidh na rialacha foráil a dhéanamh maidir le costais an fhiosrúchán agus na n-imeachtaí eile, lena n-áirítear luach saothair an duine nó na ndaoine a dhéanfaidh an fiosrúchán.
9. Chun críocha an Sceidil seo ciallaíonn “agóid ghinearálta”, maidir le haon dréacht-rialacháin, agóid arna déanamh—
(a) i gcás rialachán ginearálta—
(i) ag tromlach úinéirí na mianach nó na gcairéal lena mbaineann na dréacht-rialacháin, nó thar a gceann, nó ag na húinéirí a fhostaíonn tromlach na ndaoine a fhostaítear, nó thar a gceann; nó ag aon duine a shásóidh an tAire go bhfuil sé féin, nó comhlachas a bhfuil sé ag gníomhú thar a cheann, ag ionadú tromlach na ndaoine a fhostaítear, nó
(ii) ag tromlach úinéirí, nó thar ceann tromlach úinéirí, aon chineál nó sórt mianach nó cairéal lena mbaineann na dréacht-rialacháin agus ar dóigh leis an Aire ina dtaobh, toisc coinníollacha speisialta a bheith ann ina gcás, go bhfuil cúis ann chun a chreidiúint go mbeadh aon cheann de cheanglais na ndréacht-rialachán neamhriachtanach nó neamhchuí i gcás an chineáil nó an tsóirt sin, nó ag na húinéirí a fhostaíonn tromlach na ndaoine a fhostaítear in aon chineál nó sórt mianach nó cairéal dá leithéid sin, nó thar a gceann; nó ag aon duine a shásóidh an tAire go bhfuil sé féin, nó comhlachas a bhfuil sé ag gníomhú thar a cheann, ag ionadú tromlach na ndaoine a fhostaítear in aon chineál nó sórt mianach nó cairéal dá leithéid sin;
(b) i gcás rialachán speisialta—ag úinéir an mhianaigh nó an chairéil, nó thar a cheann, nó ag aon duine a shásóidh an Aire go bhfuil sé féin, nó comhlachas a bhfuil sé ag gníomhú thar a cheann, ag ionadú tromlach an ndaoine a fhostaítear.
Number 7 of 1965.
MINES AND QUARRIES ACT, 1965
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL
Section | |
Consultation with Minister for Health as to health regulations. | |
MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF MINES AND QUARRIES
SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE (MINES)
SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE (QUARRIES)
Miscellaneous provisions for securing safety of persons employed. | |
NOTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES
WORKMEN'S INSPECTIONS
FENCING OF ABANDONED AND DISUSED MINES
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Power to extend hours of work on a limited number of days in a year. | |
RECORDS, RETURNS AND INFORMATION
Form of official books and preservation and inspection of entries therein. | |
Notification of beginning and ending of certain mining and quarrying operations. | |
REGULATIONS
CHECKWEIGHING AT COAL MINES
Construction of Checkweighing in Various Industries Act, 1919. |
INSPECTORS
Power of inspector to require remedy for immediate or apprehended danger. |
OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
MISCELLANEOUS
Provisions as to references upon notices served by inspectors. | |
Enactments Repealed
Procedure for making Regulations
Acts Referred to | |
1926, No.17 | |
1937, No. 38 | |
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919 | 1919, c. 72 |
Various Industries Act, 1919 | 1919, c. 51 |
Forgery Act, 1913 | 1913, c. 27 |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93 |
Number 7 of 1965.
MINES AND QUARRIES ACT, 1965
PART I
Preliminary and General
Short title.
1.—This Act may be cited as the Mines and Quarries Act, 1965.
Commencement.
2.—This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as shall be fixed therefor by order or orders of the Minister either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so fixed for different purposes and different provisions of this Act.
Meaning of “mine” and “quarry”.
3.—(1) In this Act “mine” means an excavation or system of excavations made for the purpose of, or in connection with, the getting, wholly or substantially by means involving the employment of persons below ground, of minerals (whether in their natural state or in solution or suspension) or products of minerals.
(2) In this Act “quarry” means an excavation or system of excavations made for the purpose of, or in connection with, the getting of minerals (whether in their natural state or in solution or suspension) or products of minerals, being neither a mine nor merely a well or bore-hole or a well and bore-hole combined.
(3) “Mine” and “quarry” include, respectively, any place on the surface surrounding or adjacent to the shafts of the mine or to the quarry occupied together with the mine or quarry for the storage or removal of the minerals or for the purposes of a process ancillary to the getting of minerals, including the breaking, crushing, grinding, screening, washing or dressing of such minerals but, subject thereto, does not include any place at which any manufacturing process is carried on.
(4) For the purposes of this Act, any place occupied by the owner of a mine or quarry and used for depositing refuse from it shall form part of the mine or quarry, but any place so used in connection with two or more mines or quarries, and occupied by the owner of one of them, or by the owners of any two or more in common, shall be deemed to form part of such one of those mines or quarries as the Minister may direct.
(5) For the purposes of this Act any line or siding (not being part of a railway) serving a mine or quarry shall form part of the mine or quarry, but, if serving two or more of them, shall be deemed to form part of such one of them as the Minister may direct.
(6) For the purposes of this Act a conveyor or aerial ropeway provided for the removal from a mine or quarry of minerals or refuse shall form part of the mine or quarry.
Meaning of “owner”.
4.—(1) In this Act “owner” means, in relation to a mine or quarry, the person for the time being entitled to work it.
(2) Where the working of a quarry is wholly carried out by a contractor on behalf of the person entitled to work it, the contractor shall, to the exclusion of that person, be taken for the purposes of this Act to be the owner of the quarry.
(3) Where two or more persons are entitled to work a quarry independently, that one of those persons who is the licensor of the others shall, to the exclusion of the others, be taken for the purposes of this Act to be the owner of the quarry.
(4) Where the business of a person who, by virtue of the foregoing provisions, is to be taken to be owner of a mine or quarry is carried on by a liquidator, receiver or manager, or by some other person authorised to carry it on by order of court, the liquidator, receiver, manager or other person shall be taken for the purposes of this Act to be an additional owner of the mine or quarry.
Interpretation generally.
5.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“bodily injury” includes injury to health;
“child” means a person who is under the school-leaving age;
“contravention” includes, in relation to—
(a) a provision of this Act, of an order made thereunder or of regulations, or
(b) a direction, prohibition, restriction or requirement given or imposed by a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector, or
(c) a condition attached to an exemption, consent, approval or authority granted or given under or by virtue of this Act by the Minister or an inspector,
a failure to comply with the provision, direction, prohibition, restriction, requirement or condition, and “contravene” shall be construed accordingly;
“gas” includes fume or vapour;
“general regulations” means regulations other than those applicable to a particular mine or quarry only;
“gravity operated rope haulage apparatus” means rope haulage apparatus worked solely by the action of gravity on a vehicle or vehicles attached to a rope forming part of the apparatus;
“gravity operated winding apparatus” means winding apparatus worked solely by the action of gravity on a part of it in which a load is carried;
“inspector” means an inspector appointed under this Act;
“legal proceedings” includes arbitration;
“mechanically operated rope haulage apparatus” means rope haulage apparatus worked by a stationary engine;
“mechanically operated winding apparatus” means winding apparatus worked by a stationary engine;
“minerals” includes stone, slate, clay, gravel, sand and other natural deposits except peat;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce;
“notice” means a notice in writing;
“parent” means, in relation to a child or young person, the individual having the legal custody of the child or young person and where, owing to the absence of that individual or for any other reason, the child or young person is not living with or in the actual custody of that individual, includes the individual with whom the child or young person is living or in whose actual custody the child or young person is;
“period of employment” means the period (inclusive of the time allowed for meals and rest) within which a person may be employed on any day;
“permitted lights” means, in relation to a mine or a part of a mine, locked safety-lamps and any other means of lighting the use of which below ground in mines generally, in mines of a class to which that mine belongs or in that mine is authorised by regulations;
“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations;
“railway” means any railway used for the purposes of public traffic whether passenger, goods or other traffic and includes any works of the body corporate managing and controlling the railway which are connected with the railway;
“regulations” means regulations made by the Minister;
“responsible person” means, in relation to a mine, the manager and, in relation to a quarry, the owner;
“road” includes part of a road but does not include an unwalkable outlet;
“rope” includes chain;
“rope haulage apparatus” means apparatus for transporting loads in vehicles attached to ropes;
“sanitary conveniences” includes urinals, water-closets, earth-closets, ash-pits, privies and any similar convenience;
“the school-leaving age” means the age at which the School Attendance Act, 1926, ceases to apply;
“shaft” means a shaft the top of which is, or is intended to be, at the surface;
“special regulations” means regulations applicable to a particular mine or quarry only;
“staple-pit” includes winze;
“statutory responsibilities” means responsibilities under this Act, orders made thereunder and regulations;
“support rules” means rules made under section 55 for any of the purposes of the sections relating to support in mines;
“travelling road” means a length of road in a mine, used for the purpose of walking to or from working places;
“unwalkable outlet” means an outlet which, owing to the gradient thereof or of any part thereof (whether alone or in combination with other circumstances), persons cannot walk up with reasonable convenience;
“week” means the period between midnight on Saturday night and midnight on the succeeding Saturday night;
“winding apparatus” means, in relation to a mine shaft or staple-pit, apparatus for lowering and raising loads through the shaft or staple-pit;
“woman” means a woman whose age is not less than eighteen years;
“young person” means a person who has reached the school-leaving age but is less than eighteen years of age.
(2) For the purposes of this Act mine workings having a common system of ventilation, or any part of a system of ventilation in common, shall be deemed to form part of the same mine.
(3) For the purposes of this Act—
(a) the working of a mine shall be deemed to include the operation of driving a shaft or outlet therefor;
(b) the working of a quarry shall be deemed to include the operation of removing overburden thereat;
(c) a mine or quarry shall be deemed to be worked notwithstanding that the only operations carried on thereat are operations carried on with a view to abandoning the mine or quarry or for the purpose of preventing the flow therefrom into an adjacent mine or quarry of water or material that flows when wet, but shall not be deemed to be worked by reason only that pumping operations are carried on thereat for the purpose of supplying water to any person.
(4) References in this Act to the use of safety-lamps by way of temporary precaution shall, in relation to a mine, be construed as references to the occasional or intermittent use of locked safety-lamps by workmen employed below ground in the mine in a place in which the use of naked lights might be dangerous and, in relation to a part of a mine below ground, be construed as references to the occasional or intermittent use of locked safety-lamps by workmen employed in that part in such a place.
(5) References in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as references to that enactment as amended by any subsequent enactment including this Act.
Application to State.
6.—This Act applies to mines and quarries belonging to or in the occupation of the State in the same manner as it applies to mines and quarries generally.
Expenses.
7.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Laying of regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.
8.—Every regulation made under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Consultation with Minister for Health as to health regulations.
9.—Regulations under this Act in regard to the health of persons employed shall be made by the Minister only after consultation with the Minister for Health.
Repeals.
10.—The Acts mentioned in the First Schedule are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of the Schedule.
Continuance of instruments, office-holders and registers.
11.—(1) Any order, regulation, rule, certificate, exemption, consent, approval, permission, notice or authority made or given under any enactment repealed by this Act and in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue in force and shall have effect as though it had been made or given under this Act and, in so far as it could have been made or given under a particular provision of this Act, shall be deemed to have been made or given under that provision.
(2) Any such order, regulation or rule made under a power which is exercisable under a corresponding provision of this Act by a different class of instrument shall be deemed to be an instrument of that class.
(3) Any person holding office or acting or serving under or by virtue of an enactment repealed by this Act shall continue to hold office or to act or serve as if he had been appointed under the corresponding provision of this Act.
(4) Any register kept under an enactment repealed by this Act shall be deemed part of the register to be kept under the corresponding provision of this Act.
(5) The provisions of this section are without prejudice to the general application of section 21 of the Interpretation Act, 1937, as to the effect of repeals.
PART II
Management and Control of Mines and Quarries
Mine and Quarry Owners
General duties of mine and quarry owners.
12.—(1) It shall be the duty of the owner of every mine and quarry to secure that the mine or quarry is planned, laid out, managed and worked in accordance with this Act and with the orders and regulations and to comply with all requirements thereunder.
(2) The owner shall give written instructions to every person appointed by him for the purpose of securing the fulfilment of the owner's statutory duties defining that person's responsibilities.
(3) The owner shall forthwith send a copy of such instructions to an inspector and to the manager of the mine or quarry.
Mine Managers and other Officials
Appointment, and general duties and powers, of mine managers.
13.—(1) Subject to this Part, no mine shall be worked unless there is a sole manager of the mine, being an individual duly appointed and having such qualifications as are required under this Part.
(2) The manager of a mine shall have the management and control of the mine, exercisable subject to any instructions given to him by or on behalf of the owner, and shall also—
(a) have the duty of securing the discharge by all others of obligations imposed on them with respect to the mine under this Act, and
(b) have such duties with respect to the appointment of persons to carry out inspections of the mine and to be in charge of, or to supervise or conduct, operations thereat, and such other duties, and such powers, as are imposed or conferred on him under this Act.
(3) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine, with respect to each report, record or other item of information which, in pursuance of this Act or regulations, is entered in a book which by or by virtue of this Act is required to be provided for that purpose by the owner of the mine, either to read it himself forthwith or to secure that it is read forthwith by some other competent person and that there is promptly brought to his notice any matter disclosed by the report, record or other item of information which either is of an abnormal or unusual nature as regards the mine or, not being of such a nature, is of a kind which will or may necessitate the taking of any steps by the manager or any other person.
(4) The manager of a mine shall be appointed by the owner who, if an individual, may appoint himself subject, in the case of a mine whereof the manager is under this Part required to hold qualifications for his office, to the possession by the owner of those qualifications.
Rights of mine manager with respect to instructions given by or on behalf of owner.
14.—(1) Any instructions given to the manager of a mine by or on behalf of the owner, affecting the fulfilment by the manager of his statutory responsibilities, shall, so far as they are not written, be confirmed in writing, by the person by whom they were given, forthwith on the request of the manager.
(2) Except in a case of emergency, neither the owner of a mine nor a person acting on his behalf shall, except with the consent of the manager, give, otherwise than through the manager, any instructions to a person employed at the mine who is responsible to the manager.
(3) Where, in any excepted case, the owner of a mine or a person acting on his behalf gives instructions which would otherwise be required to be given through the manager, the person who gave the instructions shall forthwith inform the manager of the substance thereof and, on the request of the manager, confirm them in writing forthwith.
(4) Where, in the case of a mine whereof the manager is under this Part required to hold qualifications for his office, instructions are given by or on behalf of the owner to the manager, or a person appointed by the manager in pursuance of this Act or regulations, then, if the manager is of opinion that the execution of the instructions would or might be likely to prejudice the safety or health of the persons employed at the mine (or any of them) or to impede him in the discharge, in relation to the mine, of any duty imposed on him by or by virtue of this Act, he may,—
(a) in a case where the instructions are given to him, decline to execute them until they are confirmed in writing by a person qualified for appointment as manager of the mine who is authorised in writing by the owner to confirm instructions so given,
(b) in any other case, direct that the instructions be not executed until they are so confirmed by such a person.
(5) Subsection (4) shall not apply to instructions given by an owner of a mine who is an individual qualified for appointment as manager of such a mine or by such a person as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection.
(6) Where, in the case of a mine to which subsection (4) applies, instructions are given and confirmed as therein mentioned, the document by which they are confirmed shall be preserved by the manager, and a copy of that document shall be preserved by the owner, in each case for three years after the instructions cease to be operative.
Qualifications of mine manager.
15.—No person shall be qualified to be appointed or to be the manager of a mine at which more than fourteen persons are employed below ground unless he has attained such age, possesses such qualifications and satisfies such other conditions as may be prescribed.
Daily supervision by mine managers.
16.—(1) No mine shall be worked unless daily personal supervision thereover is exercised by the manager or, during any period during which he is absent on leave or is prevented from exercising such supervision by sickness or other cause beyond his control, by a person appointed by the owner of the mine (and having such qualifications (if any) as may be prescribed) to exercise such supervision during any such period.
(2) Subsection (1) shall not authorise the working of a mine under the supervision of a person other than the manager for any period exceeding seventy-two days (or such longer period as an inspector may allow).
(3) A person appointed under subsection (1) shall, so far as regards any period during which he acts in exercise of his appointment, be treated for the purposes of this Act, orders made thereunder and regulations in all respects as if he were the manager of the mine but nothing in this subsection shall be construed as divesting the manager of any power, or relieving him from any duty or liability, conferred or imposed on him by or by virtue of this Act.
Deputies.
17.—(1) Provision may be made by regulations—
(a) for imposing, in relation to a mine, such requirements as to the carrying out, by competent persons (each of whom is in this Act referred to as a “deputy”) appointed for the purpose by the manager of the mine and having such qualifications as may be prescribed, of inspections of the mine as the Minister thinks proper to impose to secure the safety and health of the persons employed;
(b) for providing that, subject to any exceptions for which provision may be made by the regulations, deputies shall have the immediate charge of the persons employed at the mine and of the operations carried on by them;
(c) for prescribing any additional duties to be discharged by deputies and for requiring that, subject to any prescribed exceptions, deputies shall devote the whole of their time to the discharge of their duties; and
(d) for requiring or authorising the delimitation in a mine of districts for the purpose of the discharge by deputies of their duties, for requiring that where districts are delimited no deputy shall have charge of more than one district and for relating to each district the duties of the deputy in charge of it.
(2) It shall be the duty of the manager of the mine to secure that the number of deputies is sufficient to secure the efficient discharge of their duties.
Other officials, engineers, technicians, etc.
18.—(1) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to appoint such number of officials, engineers and technicians and other competent persons as is sufficient (taking into account activities undertaken in person by the manager and by any persons so appointed) to secure—
(a) the adequate inspection of the mine and its equipment,
(b) the thorough supervision of all operations at the mine, and
(c) the carrying on of the undertaking of the mine in conformity with this Act.
(2) Regulations may require the manager of a mine to appoint such officials, engineers or technicians or other competent persons as may be prescribed, for the purpose of supervising, inspecting or conducting prescribed operations or matters, and the regulations may prescribe the qualifications to be held and the duties to be discharged by such persons.
Duty of mine manager to ensure that persons appointed by him understand their duties.
19.—It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to ensure to the best of his ability that every person appointed by him in pursuance of this Act or of regulations understands the nature and scope of his duties.
Disqualification of contractors and their employees for appointment as managers or deputies of mines.
20.—Where a mine or any part thereof is worked, or any operations in a mine are carried on, by a contractor, and a person is under this Part required to hold qualifications for appointment as manager or deputy, neither the contractor nor a person employed by him shall be capable of being appointed to such office notwithstanding that, apart from this section, he is qualified for appointment thereto.
Plans
Plans.
21.—(1) Regulations may require the manager of a mine to keep at the office at the mine or at some other place approved by an inspector—
(a) accurate plans of all the workings (whether abandoned or not) in the mine or within, or within a prescribed distance from, the boundaries of the mine or of such of those workings as may be prescribed,
(b) accurate sections of the seams or veins for the time being worked in the mine and of all the strata overlying them,
in such form and manner and complying with such conditions as may be prescribed.
(2) It shall be the duty both of the owner and of the manager, and of such other persons as may be prescribed, to afford to the person preparing any plan or section all such information and facilities as he may need for the purpose.
(3) Regulations may require, in the case of the abandonment or disuse of a mine or of a seam or vein in a mine, the owner to send to an inspector such plans and sections relating thereto and to the overlying strata, in such circumstances, within such time, in such form and manner and complying with such conditions as may be prescribed.
Faulty plans.
22.—(1) If it appears to the Minister that—
(a) any plan or section to which section 21 applies is inaccurate, incomplete, dilapidated or wholly or partly indecipherable or that a plan or section required to be sent to an inspector has not been sent within the prescribed time, and
(b) that, in the interests of safety, it is desirable for a new plan or section to be made,
the Minister may appoint a person (in this section referred to as “the surveyor”) to make a new plan or section.
(2) The owner and the manager shall afford to the surveyor all such facilities and information as he may need.
(3) The cost of making the new plan or section, or such part of the cost as the Minister thinks proper, shall be recoverable by the Minister from the owner.
Quarry Managers and other Officials
Appointment of quarry managers.
23.—(1) Subject to this Part, no quarry shall be worked unless there is a sole manager of the quarry, being an individual.
(2) The manager shall be appointed by the owner who, if an individual, may appoint himself.
General powers and duties of quarry managers.
24.—(1) Subject to section 25, the manager of a quarry shall have the management and control of the quarry, exercisable subject to any instructions given to him by or on behalf of the owner, and shall also have the duty of securing the discharge by all others of obligations imposed on them with respect to the quarry by or under the following provisions of this Part.
(2) It shall be the duty of the manager of a quarry, with respect to each report, record or other item of information which in pursuance of this Act or regulations is entered in a book which by or by virtue of this Act is required to be provided for that purpose by the owner of the quarry, either to read it himself forthwith or to secure that it is read forthwith by some other competent person and that there is promptly brought to his notice any matter disclosed by the report, record or other item of information which relates to a matter over which the management and control vested in him by this section extends and either is of an abnormal or unusual nature as regards the quarry or, not being of such a nature, is of a kind which will or may necessitate the taking of any steps by the manager or any other person.
Power of quarry owner to exclude matters from manager's control.
25.—(1) There shall be excepted from the management and control vested in the manager by section 24 any matter responsibility for which is for the time being reserved to himself by the owner by instrument in writing executed by him and lodged with the inspector and the manager shall not, as regards any matter so excepted, be concerned to secure compliance with any requirement imposed with respect to the quarry by or under this Act.
(2) If the inspector is of opinion that reservation to the owner, by any such instrument, of responsibility for any particular matter is, or might be, likely to prejudice the safety or health of persons employed at the quarry, the inspector may, by notice served on the owner, direct that the instrument shall, to the extent of the reservation, be of no effect.
(3) Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed as authorising the divestment of, or as operating to divest, a manager of a quarry of any duty expressly imposed on him by or under the following provisions of this Part.
(4) Where responsibility for any matter is for the time being duly reserved to the owner of a quarry, it shall be his duty, with respect to each such report, record or other item of information as aforesaid, either to read it himself forthwith or to secure that it is read forthwith by some other competent person and that there is promptly brought to his notice any matter disclosed by the report, record or other item of information which relates to the matter responsibility for which is so reserved and either is of an abnormal or unusual nature as regards the quarry or, not being of such a nature, is of a kind which will or may necessitate the taking of any steps by the owner or any other person.
Rights of quarry manager with respect to instructions given by or on behalf of owner.
26.—(1) Any instructions given to the manager of a quarry by or on behalf of the owner, affecting the fulfilment by the manager of his statutory responsibilities shall, so far as they are not written, be confirmed in writing by the person by whom they were given forthwith on the request of the manager.
(2) Except in a case of emergency, neither the owner of a quarry nor a person acting on his behalf shall, except with the consent of the manager, give, otherwise than through the manager, to a person employed at the quarry who is responsible to the manager, any instructions affecting the discharge of that person's duties in relation to a matter over which the management and control vested in the manager by section 24 extends.
(3) Where, in any excepted case, the owner or a person acting on his behalf gives instructions which would otherwise be required to be given through the manager, the person who gave the instructions shall forthwith inform the manager of the substance thereof and, on the request of the manager, confirm them in writing forthwith.
Supervision by quarry manager.
27.—(1) No quarry shall be worked unless close and effective supervision over all operations in progress thereat is exercised by the manager or, during any period during which he is absent on leave or is prevented from exercising such supervision by sickness or other cause beyond his control, by a person appointed by the owner to exercise such supervision during any such period.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall require the supervision to be exercised by the manager to extend to any operation in so far as it involves matters which, under section 25, are excepted from his management and control.
(3) The person appointed shall, while so acting, be treated for the purposes of this Act in all respects as if he were the manager.
(4) Nothing in subsection (3) shall divest the manager of any power, or relieve him from any duty or liability, conferred or imposed on him by or under this Act.
Power to require qualified manager where certain quarrying operations are carried on.
28.—Regulations may prohibit the carrying on at a quarry of operations of a prescribed class unless the manager has prescribed qualifications, and any such regulations may—
(a) provide for temporary exemptions from the prohibition to avoid, in the case of the manager's ceasing to hold office, sudden cessation of the carrying on at the quarry of operations of that class, and
(b) provide that section 27 shall not authorise the appointment of any person to exercise supervision over such operations unless that person has the prescribed qualifications.
Officials, etc.
29.—Regulations may require the appointment by owners or managers of quarries, for the purpose of supervising, inspecting or conducting prescribed operations or matters, of such officials, engineers or technicians or other competent persons as may be prescribed, and the regulations may prescribe the qualifications to be held and the duties to be discharged by such persons.
Provisions as to Appointments by Mine and Quarry Owners.
Temporary appointments during vacancy in office of mine or quarry manager.
30.—(1) Where the manager of a mine or quarry dies, resigns or otherwise ceases to hold office, nothing in section 13 or 23 shall prevent the mine or quarry being worked at any time during a period not exceeding seventy-two days (or such longer period as an inspector may allow) until a successor is appointed, if at that time there is a person appointed by the owner to exercise and perform, in the event of the manager's ceasing to hold office, his powers and duties until a successor is appointed.
(2) The person appointed shall, while so acting, be treated for the purposes of this Act in all respects as if he were the manager.
Notification to inspector of appointments by mine or quarry owners.
31.—Forthwith after the appointment by the owner of a mine or quarry of a person to be a manager, or to exercise and perform the powers and duties of manager during a vacancy, or to exercise supervision during a period when the manager is absent or unable to exercise supervision, the owner shall give to the inspector notice, in such form as may be specified by the Minister, of the making of the appointment and of the name and address of the person appointed.
PART III
Safety, Health and Welfare (Mines)
Shafts and Entrances
Requirements as to shafts and outlets: mines of coal and other stratified minerals.
32.—(1) There must be in every mine of coal or other stratified mineral at least two shafts or outlets, with which every seam for the time being at work in the mine shall have a communication, so that such shafts or outlets shall afford separate means of ingress and egress available to the persons employed in every such seam, whether the shafts or outlets belong to the same mine or to more than one mine.
(2) Such two shafts or outlets must not at any point be nearer to one another than fifteen yards, and there shall be between them a communication not less than four feet wide and four feet high.
(3) Every part of the mine in which ten or more persons are employed at the same time shall be provided with at least two ways affording means of egress to the surface, and so arranged that, in the event of either becoming impassable at any point, the other will afford means of egress to the surface.
(4) No person shall be precluded by any agreement from doing such acts as may be necessary for complying with the foregoing provisions of this section, or be liable under any contract to any injunction, damages, penalty, or forfeiture for doing such acts as may be necessary in order to comply therewith.
(5) Regulations may provide that this section shall, with such exceptions, modifications and adaptations as may be prescribed, apply to any other class of mine.
(6) Regulations may provide such further safeguards as the Minister may think proper to secure safe ingress and egress, including requirements as to the communications to be provided and maintained between shafts and outlets and limitations on the number of persons to be employed at any time in a place below ground from which there are not two separate, convenient and safe ways each leading to a different shaft or outlet.
(7) Provision may be made by regulations or by a notice served by the Minister or an inspector on the owner of a mine for exempting the mine or any specified place therein from all or any of the requirements of this section or of regulations made thereunder.
Provision of winding and haulage apparatus.
33.—(1) Every shaft and unwalkable outlet for the time being in use at a mine of coal or other stratified mineral for bringing persons to and from the surface shall be provided with apparatus for carrying persons between the top of the shaft, or surface entrance to the outlet, and the entrances to the workings and between those entrances themselves.
(2) (a) Every shaft and unwalkable outlet for the time being in use at any other mine for bringing persons to and from the surface shall be provided with apparatus for carrying persons between the top of the shaft or surface entrance to the outlet and the entrances to the workings and between those entrances themselves, if the relevant distance exceeds one hundred and fifty feet.
(b) In this subsection “relevant distance” means, in the case of a shaft, the distance between the top of the shaft and the bottom of the lowest entrance to the shaft provided for affording to persons access to the shaft and, in the case of an outlet, the distance between the point at which the outlet reaches the surface and the underground entrance provided for affording to persons access to the outlet which is furthest from that point.
(c) An inspector may by notice served on the manager of a mine exempt from this subsection a shaft or outlet provided at the mine.
(3) The apparatus shall comply with such requirements as may be prescribed.
(4) The use of the apparatus shall be confined to the shaft or outlet, unless an inspector in any particular case, by notice served on the manager of the mine, consents to its use not being so confined.
(5) All apparatus shall be properly maintained and, when not in use, kept constantly available for use.
Securing of shafts and staple-pits.
34.—(1) Every mine shaft and staple-pit shall, save in so far as the natural conditions of the strata through which it passes render it unnecessary (either as to the whole or as to any part thereof) so to make it, be made secure, and shall be kept secure.
In any prosecution for a contravention of this subsection it shall be a defence to prove that at the time of the alleged contravention no insecure part of that shaft or staple-pit was in use or was the site of any operations in progress by way of driving or extending the shaft or staple-pit.
(2) Subsection (1) shall apply to unwalkable outlets at a mine as it applies to mine shafts.
Safety precautions with respect to entrances to shafts, staple-pits and outlets.
35.—(1) The surface entrance to every mine shaft and every other entrance thereto (whether above or below ground), and every entrance to every staple-pit, shall be provided with an efficient enclosure or barrier so designed and constructed as to prevent any person from accidentally falling down the shaft or staple-pit or accidentally coming into contact with a moving part of any winding apparatus with which the shaft or staple-pit is provided.
(2) Every enclosure or barrier shall be properly maintained and, where it or any part of it is removable or openable, the enclosure, barrier or part shall be kept securely in position or, as the case may be, securely closed save in so far as its removal or opening is necessary for the purpose of the use of the shaft or staple-pit, or the doing of work in, or the inspection of, or of anything in, the shaft or staple-pit.
(3) Regulations may require such steps as may be prescribed to be taken for the purpose of preventing persons from accidentally entering outlets at mines or from accidentally coming into contact with moving parts of any apparatus therein.
(4) For the purposes of this section so much of any superstructure provided at the top of a shaft as forms an extension thereof shall be deemed to form part of the shaft.
(5) this section shall not apply to a shaft or outlet of, or staple-pit in, an abandoned mine or a mine which has not been worked for a period of twelve months, but, save as aforesaid, shall apply as well to shafts, outlets and staple-pits which are not in use as to shafts, outlets and staple-pits which are in use.
Roads
General provisions with respect to construction and maintenance of roads.
36.—(1) This section applies to every road in a mine.
(2) Every road made after the commencement of this section shall be so made and maintained as to avoid sudden changes of direction, height, width and gradient, save in so far as the system of working the mine or the natural conditions of the strata therein render it inadvisable for reasons of safety to do so, or it is unnecessary to do so.
(3) If, in the case of any road made before the commencement of this Act, an inspector is of opinion that any sudden change therein of direction, height, width or gradient ought to be eliminated, he may serve on the manager of the mine a notice requiring the manager to execute, within a specified period, such works as will eliminate that sudden change.
(4) Every road, which is used at the beginning or end of a shift by not less than six persons shall be kept free from obstructions and the floor thereof shall be kept in good repair.
(5) The provisions of section 146 as to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under this section.
(6) References in this section to changes of gradient shall be construed as including references to deviations (whether upwards or downwards) from the horizontal.
(7) It shall be the duty of the manager of the mine to take such steps as may be necessary to comply with this section.
Height and width of travelling roads.
37.—(1) Every travelling road shall be of adequate height and width and, if its height or width appears to an inspector to be inadequate, he may serve on the manager of the mine a notice requiring any specified alteration to be made.
(2) (a) Every travelling road, made after the commencement of this subsection, which is used at the beginning or end of a shift by not less than ten persons for the purpose of walking to or from their working places, shall be not less than five feet six inches high throughout.
(b) An inspector may, by notice served on the manager of a mine, exempt any road from this requirement.
(3) The provisions of section 146 as to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under subsection (1) of this section.
Prohibition of use of vehicles and conveyors in roads not affording free movement.
38.—The manager of a mine—
(a) shall not permit vehicles to run in any road therein unless neither the vehicles nor their loads, nor (if the vehicles run as part of rope haulage apparatus) the ropes to which they are attached, nor (if the vehicles are hauled by animals) the animals nor their harnesses rub against the roof or sides of the road, anything supporting the roof and sides of the road or either of them or anything in the road not provided for the purpose of controlling the vehicles or (in the case of vehicles which run as part of rope haulage apparatus) the ropes to which they are attached;
(b) shall not permit a conveyor to be operated in any road therein unless neither the conveyor nor its load rubs against the roof or sides of the road, anything supporting the roof and sides of the road or either of them or anything in the road.
Transport rules and regulations.
39.—(1) The manager of every mine shall make rules (in this section referred to as “transport rules”)—
(a) specifying the maximum loads (by reference to weight, dimensions, number or other criteria) that may be carried in vehicles in any length of road in the mine and the maximum number of vehicles (according as to whether they are loaded or unloaded) that may be coupled together to run as a set or train in any length of road in the mine,
(b) specifying the maximum speeds at which vehicles may run in any length of road in the mine, and
(c) prohibiting the conveyance in roads in the mine of persons in vehicles or on conveyors except in such circumstances and in accordance with such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the rules and specifying precautions to be observed when persons are so conveyed,
and may make such other rules as he thinks proper with respect to the use of vehicles and conveyors in the mine and the conditions under which they may be used.
(2) (a) If an inspector is of opinion that transport rules require modification in any particular, he may serve on the manager of the mine a notice specifying the modification that, in his opinion, ought to be made, and requiring the manager, within a specified time, to modify the rules in accordance with the tenor of the notice.
(b) The provisions of section 146 as to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice under this subsection.
(3) A transport rule which is inconsistent with the provisions of any regulation shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be of no effect.
(4) Regulations may require the provision of facilities for the carriage of persons through travelling roads in the interests of safety or to avoid excessive fatigue.
Provisions for securing safety of foot-passengers in transport roads.
40.—(1) This section applies to every road in a mine, being a road in which run vehicles moved otherwise than by hand or by animal traction.
(2) While such vehicles are moving in the road no person employed at the mine (other than an authorised person) shall, except in accordance with regulations, pass on foot along the road unless the movement of the vehicles is specially stopped to allow him to do so.
(3) If the road is used at the beginning or end of a shift by not less than ten persons, it shall be the duty of the manager to fix a period or periods for the purpose of enabling them to walk in safety, and no person shal cause or permit a vehicle (whether loaded or not) to move, otherwise than by hand or by animal traction, in the road during a period so fixed.
(4) Regulations may exempt from any of the foregoing requirements any road of a prescribed class in mines to which the regulations apply, and an inspector may, by notice served on the manager of a particular mine, exempt from any such requirement any road in that mine.
(5) In any prosecution in respect of a person's passing along a road in contravention of subsection (2) it shall be a defence to prove that he had reasonable cause to believe that it might be necessary for repairs to be carried out forthwith in the road and was so passing to ascertain the nature or extent of the repairs.
(6) Except with the written permission of the manager of a mine, no person shall, except in accordance with special regulations, accompany on foot below ground a vehicle which is moving as part of any rope haulage apparatus.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (2), “authorised person” means, in relation to a road in a mine,—
(a) an official of the mine;
(b) a person employed in connection with the running of vehicles in that road;
(c) a person engaged in, or in connection with, the carrying out in that road of repairs which it is necessary to carry out forthwith; or
(d) a person engaged in carrying out, by virtue of the provisions of this Act relating to workmen's inspections or of any such agreement as is mentioned in those provisions, an inspection at the mine.
Provision of refuge holes.
41.—(1) Subject to any prescribed exceptions, the manager of a mine shall not permit vehicles (not being vehicles moved by hand) to run in any length of road in the mine unless refuge holes are provided in prescribed positions in the road, beyond seventy-five feet of a working face served by it.
(2) Every such refuge hole shall be of such dimensions and comply with such requirements as may be prescribed.
(3) Every such refuge hole shall be kept free from obstruction.
(4) In this section “working face” does not include a place in a road at which ripping or work of repair is in progress.
Safety measures relating to use of vehicles.
42.—(1) So long as vehicles are used in a mine, there shall be provided, maintained and used, either in the mine or on the vehicles or both in the mine and on the vehicles, such safety devices as are necessary to prevent the occurrence of accidents to persons by vehicles running away; and every device shall be of a kind designed to assume automatically the position in which it operates for the purpose for which it is designed, save in a case where there is good reason for not providing a device of that kind.
(2) All necessary precautions shall be taken to protect from injury, in the event of a vehicle running away, any person who, otherwise than as a matter of routine, is at work at a place in a mine through which a vehicle runs.
Special Precautions for Winding and Rope Haulage Apparatus and Conveyors.
Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are carried.
43.—(1) No mechanically or gravity operated winding or rope haulage apparatus at a mine shall be operated for the carriage of persons except by a competent male person, who is at least twenty-two years of age, appointed by the manager; and it shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to appoint a sufficient number of competent male persons for the purpose.
(2) It shall be the duty of the manager of a mine to secure that a person appointed under this section is in attendance at the mine to operate such apparatus so long as any person is below ground who it is intended should come out by means thereof.
(3) An inspector may serve on the manager of a mine a notice requiring him to secure that, at such times as may be specified in the notice, the person in attendance is not charged with the duty of operating more than one set of apparatus.
(4) Subject to any prescribed exceptions, no person appointed under this section shall be employed at a mine of coal or other stratified mineral for more than eight hours in any day on which his duties consist of, or include, the operation for the carriage of persons of mechanically or gravity operated winding apparatus at a shaft, and regulations may provide for limiting the number of hours for which any such person may be employed in any week.
Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are not carried.
44.—(1) No mechanically or gravity operated winding apparatus at a shaft or staple-pit shall be operated on an occasion when no persons are carried by means thereof except by, or under the constant supervision of, a competent male person who is at least twenty-one years of age.
(2) No mechanically or gravity operated rope haulage apparatus at a mine shall be operated on any such occasion except by, or under the constant supervision of, a competent male person who is at least eighteen years of age.
(3) An inspector may by notice served on the manager of a mine exempt any apparatus from subsection (2).
Charge of conveyors at working faces.
45.—No conveyor shall be operated along a working face in a mine except by, or under the constant supervision of, a competent male person who is at least eighteen years of age.
Signalling shafts and outlets.
46.—(1) Where winding or rope haulage apparatus is installed in a mine shaft or unwalkable outlet, effective means of transmitting audible and visible signals from each entrance for the time being in use to the place where the apparatus is operated shall be provided and maintained in every case where the distance between the highest and lowest entrances for the time being in use in the shaft, or between the terminal surface and underground entrances to the outlet, exceeds fifty feet.
(2) Regulations may require means of transmitting signals between the entrances themselves to be provided and maintained.
(3) Regulations may require—
(a) the prescribed signals to be transmitted in a prescribed code;
(b) the manager of a mine to secure the attendance of persons, at prescribed times, for the purpose of transmitting and receiving signals.
(4) For the purposes of this section—
(a) so much of any superstructure at the top of a shaft as forms an extension thereof shall be deemed to form part of the shaft, and so much of a line of rails running through an outlet as lies between the point at which the outlet reaches the surface and the surface terminus of the line shall be deemed to form part of the outlet;
(b) “entrance”, in relation to an outlet, includes any place at which vehicles stop for the purpose of loading or unloading; and
(c) “terminal surface” and “underground entrances”, in relation to an outlet, mean, respectively, the surface entrance thereto or, if there is more than one, that one for the time being in use which is furthest from the point at which the outlet reaches the surface and the underground entrance thereto for the time being in use which is furthest from that point.
Signalling in roads.
47.—Where rope haulage apparatus or a conveyor is installed in a road in a mine or is so installed as to permit of its operation in a road, then, if the length of road through which vehicles can move as part of that apparatus, or through which loads can be carried by means of that conveyor, exceeds ninety feet, there shall be provided and maintained effective means of transmitting signals from every point throughout that length of road, to the place at which the apparatus or conveyor is operated.
Power to exclude or modify five preceding sections in case of remotely controlled or automatic apparatus.
48.—Regulations may provide for excluding or modifying all or any of the provisions of sections 43 to 47 in the case of winding or rope haulage apparatus, or conveyors, installed at mines, whose operation is remotely controlled or wholly or partly automatic.
Support
Duty to secure safety of roads and working places.
49.—(1) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to take such steps by way of controlling movement of the strata in the mine and supporting the roof and sides of every road or working place as may be necessary for keeping the road or working place secure.
(2) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to secure that he has at all material times all information relevant for determining the steps necessary to discharge efficiently the duty imposed on him by subsection (1).
Systematic support in mines of coal and other stratified minerals.
50.—(1) Subject to this section, in every mine of coal or other stratified mineral there shall be provided and maintained systematic support for the roof and sides of—
(a) every place where any mineral is worked;
(b) every roadhead;
(c) every junction of two or more lengths of road through any one of which vehicles or a conveyor run or runs; and
(d) every length of road in which persons work otherwise than occasionally or for short periods.
(2) (a) If an inspector is of opinion that systematic support for the roof and sides (or either of them) of any other length of road in any such mine ought to be provided and maintained, he may serve on the manager a notice specifying the length of road, stating his opinion and requiring the provision, before the expiration of a specified period, and maintenance of such systematic support.
(b) The provisions of section 146 as to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under this subsection.
(3) Regulations may require or empower inspectors to require systematic support for roofs or sides, or both, to be provided and maintained in mines of a class to which this section relates in such cases (not being cases falling within subsection (1)) and to such extent as may be prescribed.
(4) Regulations may provide for exempting from this section any prescribed class of mine or any prescribed class of place where mineral is worked, or of roadheads, junctions or roads, and an inspector may, by notice served on the manager of a particular mine, exempt from this section that mine or any such place, roadhead, junction or road therein.
(5) Such systematic support as is required under this section shall comply with a system specified in support rules being a system consistent with the proper control of movement of the strata in the mine.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a workman from setting in his working place any additional support which he considers necessary to secure the safety of himself or another.
Power to require systematic support in other mines.
51.—(1) Regulations may require, or empower inspectors to require, systematic support for roofs or sides, or both, in mines other than of coal or other stratified mineral to be provided and maintained in such cases and to such extent as may be prescribed.
(2) Such support shall comply with a system specified in support rules, being a system consistent with the proper control of movement of the strata in the mine.
Supply of materials for support.
52.—(1) Subject to any prescribed exceptions, all materials for support shall be provided by the owner of the mine.
(2) No charge shall be levied upon any workman in respect of the provision of materials for support.
(3) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to secure that a sufficient supply of suitable materials for support is at all times readily available, for use at the place where he is actually working, to each workman who needs them.
(4) Where such a supply is not so available, the workman shall withdraw to a place of safety and forthwith report to an official of the mine that he has done so.
(5) Where it appears to the person for the time being in charge of a part of a mine that such supply is not so available to a workman employed there, that person shall cause the workman to withdraw to a place of safety.
(6) Where, on any occasion, a workman has, in pursuance of either of the foregoing subsections, withdrawn from the place where he was actually working, the person for the time being in charge of that part of the mine shall not permit the workman to return to it until that person is satisfied that such a supply of materials will be so available.
Withdrawal of support.
53.—(1) No person shall withdraw support from the roof or sides of any place in a mine otherwise than by a method or device by which he does so from a position of safety.
(2) Where it is part of the system of work to withdraw from the waste or from under the roof adjoining the waste support provided in compliance with this Act, no person shall withdraw such support except in accordance with a system specified in support rules.
Duties of deputies in relation to support.
54.—It shall be the duty of every deputy to ensure to the best of his ability that all support rules are executed and enforced and that any additional supports which appear to him to be necessary are duly set.
Provisions as to support rules.
55.—(1) Support rules for a mine shall be made by the manager of the mine.
(2) Support rules shall comply with such requirements as may be prescribed, and may impose upon persons employed at the mine such duties and prohibitions as the manager of the mine thinks proper to secure compliance with the provisions of this Part relating to support.
(3) (a) If an inspector is of opinion that support rules require modification in any particular, he may serve on the manager of the mine a notice specifying the modification that, in his opinion, ought to be made, and requiring the manager, within a specified time, to modify the rules in accordance with the tenor of the notice.
(b) The provisions of section 146 as to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under this subsection.
(4) A support rule which is inconsistent with the provisions of any regulation shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be of no effect.
(5) A copy of all support rules shall be kept at the office at the mine or at such other place as may be approved by an inspector. A copy of such rules as are applicable to a district delimited under paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 17 shall be supplied by the manager to the deputy in charge of the district and shall be kept posted at the entrance to the district so as to be easily seen and read by the persons employed in the district.
(6) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine for which support rules are for the time being in force to supply to every person employed at the mine whose duties consist of, or include, the setting of supports in accordance with a system specified in the rules, a document explaining either verbally or diagrammatically, or partly in the one way and partly in the other, the effect of the rules so far as they concern him.
(7) A document purporting to be certified by the manager of a mine to be a true copy of any support rules shall be prima facie evidence of the rules.
Ventilation
Duty to provide adequate ventilation.
56.—(1) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to take such steps as are necessary for securing that there is constantly produced in all parts of the mine below ground ventilation adequate for the following purposes, namely,—
(a) diluting gases that are inflammable or noxious so as to render them harmless and removing them; and
(b) providing air containing a sufficiency of oxygen.
(2) Without prejudice to the general application of subsection (1)—
(a) ventilation produced in a part of a mine shall be deemed for the purposes of that subsection not to be adequate for the purpose of diluting carbon dioxide so as to render it harmless unless the amount thereof in the general body of the air in that part of the mine is not more than one and a quarter per cent by volume or such smaller percentage as may be prescribed;
(b) ventilation produced in a part of a mine shall be deemed for the purposes of that subsection not to be adequate for the purpose of providing air containing a sufficiency of oxygen unless the amount of oxygen in the general body of the air in that part of the mine is not less than nineteen per cent by volume.
(3) Regulations may provide that, without prejudice to the general application of subsection (1), ventilation produced in a part of a mine shall be deemed for the purposes of that subsection not to be adequate for the purpose of diluting a prescribed gas (other than carbon dioxide) that is inflammable or noxious so as to render it harmless unless the amount thereof in the general body of the air in that part of the mine is less than the prescribed percentage by volume.
(4) In the discharge of the duty imposed on him by subsection (1), the manager of a mine shall have regard to the desirability of securing (consistently with the discharge of that duty) the maintenance in the mine of working conditions that are reasonable so far as regards the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere and the amount of dust therein.
(5) Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed as requiring the production of ventilation—
(a) in a part of a mine which is stopped off in a prescribed manner or in such other manner as may be approved by an inspector by notice served on the manager of the mine or is stowed up;
(b) in any waste; or
(c) in any such other part of a mine as may be prescribed.
(6) Where, in any part of a mine required by the foregoing provisions of this section to be ventilated, the ventilation is interrupted or ceases to be adequate for the purposes mentioned in subsection (1), it shall be the duty of the manager of the mine to secure that, until the ventilation is restored, access to that part of the mine is so restricted as to prevent from entering it any person not authorised to do so and that no person is permitted to remain in or pass through it except for the purpose of restoring the ventilation or in a case of emergency.
Avoidance of danger from gas in waste.
57.—(1) This section applies to waste other than—
(a) waste which is—
(i) stopped off in a prescribed manner or in such other manner as may be approved by an inspector by notice served on the manager of the mine in which it is contained, or
(ii) stowed up; or
(b) other waste known to contain—
(i) no inflammable gas, and
(ii) either no noxious gas or no noxious gas in a dangerous concentration.
(2) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine which contains any waste to which this section applies to secure either—
(a) that there is constantly produced in that waste ventilation adequate, in accordance with section 56, for the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) of that section; or
(b) that appropriate steps are taken for the purpose of minimising dangerous emissions from that waste of inflammable or noxious gas.
Power of inspector to require improvement of ventilation.
58.—(1) If an inspector is of opinion that, in the interests of the safety or health of the persons employed, it is necessary or expedient to improve the ventilation produced in any part of a mine that is, by section 56 required to be ventilated, he may serve on the manager of the mine a notice requiring (according as may be specified in the notice) either—
(a) that ventilation which, after the expiration of a specified period is produced in that part of the mine in pursuance of the said section, must conform to specified requirements, or
(b) that such works for the purpose of improving the ventilation in that part of the mine as may be specified in the notice shall be executed before the expiration of that period.
(2) The provisions of section 146 with respect to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under this section.
Provisions as to means of ventilation.
59.—(1) Unless, in all parts of a mine that are required by section 56 to be ventilated, ventilation adequate for the purposes specified in subsection (1) of that section is provided wholly by natural means, there shall be provided and maintained on the surface of the mine mechanically operated apparatus capable of producing in all those parts of the mine an amount of ventilation sufficient (apart from any ventilation produced by any mechanically operated apparatus below ground) to enable all the persons who are below ground in the mine at any one time to leave it safely; and any apparatus so provided shall, if it is not normally used to produce ventilation, be used once at least in each week and be kept constantly available for use.
(2) Where (whether in pursuance of subsection (1) or not) there is provided on the surface of a mine of coal mechanically operated apparatus for producing ventilation below ground in the mine, then, unless that apparatus is so designed or adapted, and is so installed, as to permit of its operation both by way of forcing air into, and by way of exhausting air from, the mine, there shall be provided in association with that apparatus, maintained and kept constantly available for use, adequate means for reversing the direction of flow of the ventilation produced by that apparatus.
(3) (a) Regulations may—
(i) exempt any prescribed class of mines from the provisions of subsection (1);
(ii) exempt any prescribed class of mines of coal from the provisions of subsection (2);
and an inspector may, by notice served on the manager of a particular mine other than of coal, exempt the mine from subsection (1) and may, by notice served on the manager of a particular mine of coal, exempt the mine from either or both of those subsections.
(b) No exemption shall be granted unless the Minister is satisfied that no persons employed in mines of the class to which the regulations apply will be exposed to undue risk in consequence of the granting of the exemption, and no exemption shall be granted by an inspector in the case of a particular mine unless he is satisfied that no persons employed in that mine will be exposed to undue risk in consequence of the granting of the exemption.
(4) It shall not be lawful to use a fire for ventilation in a mine or, except with the consent of an inspector, given by notice served on the manager of the mine, to release in a mine compressed air for the purpose thereby of diluting or removing inflammable or noxious gas.
Prevention of leakage of air between airways.
60.—(1) Where, of any two lengths of different passages in a mine of coal or other stratified mineral, one at least is made after the commencement of this section, then, unless there is (without any steps being taken for the purpose of minimising the leakage of air between them) no, or no appreciable, leakage of air between them, it shall not be lawful to use one as, or as part of, an intake airway and the other as, or as part of, a return airway unless such steps are taken as are necessary for the purpose of minimising the leakage of air between them.
(2) Nothing in this section shall render unlawful the use as, or as part of, an airway of so much of any passage in a mine as lies within the relevant distance from a working face to which air is supplied or from which air is drawn off through that airway.
(3) In this section—
(a) “relevant distance” means, in relation to a working face in a mine, four hundred and fifty feet (measured from any point on that face in a straight line on any plane) or such other distance, so measured (whether greater or less than four hundred and fifty feet), as may, in any particular case, be determined by an inspector by notice served on the manager of the mine; and
(b) “working face” does not include a place in a road at which ripping or work of repair is in progress.
Provision of barometers and other measuring instruments.
61.—An inspector may by notice served on the manager require him to provide and maintain at the mine any instrument being a barometer, thermometer or hygrometer and may direct that the instrument shall be of a specified kind and be provided at a specified place, and that readings shall be taken and recorded at specified times.
Lighting, Lamps and Contraband
Lighting.
62.—(1) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine—
(a) to secure the provision of—
(i) suitable and sufficient lighting (whether natural or artificial) in every part of the mine above ground in or through which persons work or pass, having regard to the light emitted by lamps normally carried by persons who work in or pass through it;
(ii) suitable and sufficient artificial lighting in every part of the mine below ground in or through which persons work or pass, other than a part in which the installation of artificial lighting is inadvisable for reasons of safety or is unnecessary because of the amount of light emitted by lamps normally carried by persons who work in or pass through it or for any other reason;
(b) to secure that all lighting apparatus is properly maintained.
(2) Regulations may require the provision and maintenance of additional lights at prescribed places at a mine.
Permitted lights.
63.—(1) Subject to this section, no lamps or lights other than permitted lights shall be allowed or used below ground at a mine after—
(a) the occurrence in any part of the mine below ground of an ignition or explosion of gas naturally present in the mine (whether or not causing death or bodily injury), or
(b) the introduction of the use, in any part of the mine below ground, of locked safety-lamps otherwise than by way of temporary precaution, or
(c) the expiration of four weeks from the day next following that on which a notice, served on the manager by an inspector, stating that he is of opinion that no lamps or lights other than permitted lights ought to be used below ground in the mine, has become operative.
(2) A notice under paragraph (c) of subsection (1) shall not be served except where inflammable gas is known to have been naturally present in the mine at some time during the period of five years ending with the date on which service is effected; and the provisions of section 146 as to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to any such notice.
(3) If an inspector is satisfied that, by reason of the special character of a mine or part of it, compliance with the foregoing provisions is unnecessary, he may, by notice served on the manager of the mine, exempt the mine or part from those provisions.
Lighting and contraband regulations.
64.—(1) Regulations may provide for—
(a) the construction, provision, maintenance, issue, use and any other matter with respect to safety lamps, lighting apparatus and detection apparatus for use in a mine for the purposes of the foregoing sections;
(b) the prohibition of taking into prescribed mines or parts of mines of articles capable of producing flame or sparks;
(c) the prohibition of taking into prescribed mines or parts of mines of smoking materials;
(d) the manner of search of persons and articles for such prohibited articles and materials;
(e) the posting of notices warning persons of their liability under this section.
(2) No person shall be searched except in the presence of a third person and no person shall search another unless he has given on that occasion an opportunity to some two other persons to search himself and, if searched by them, has not been found to have in his possession any prohibited article or material.
(3) Any prohibited article or material found upon a search under this section may be seized by the person making the search and dealt with in such manner as may be directed by the manager of the mine.
(4) A person found upon a search under this section to have in his possession a prohibited article or material shall be guilty of an offence.
(5) A person who refuses to allow himself or an article which he has with him to be searched under this section shall be guilty of an offence and, if the refusal occurs before he goes below ground he shall not be allowed to go below ground on that occasion and, if it occurs when he is in a mine, he shall not be allowed to remain in it on that occasion.
Electricity and Electrical Apparatus
Electricity and electrical apparatus.
65.—(1) Regulations may provide for—
(a) the generation, storage, transformation, transmission and use of electricity at mines;
(b) the use, construction, installation, examination, repair, maintenance, alteration, adjustment and testing of electrical apparatus and electric cables at mines;
(c) requiring that, where the amount of inflammable gas in the general body of the air in a part of a mine below ground exceeds a prescribed percentage (not being more than one and a quarter) by volume, the supply of electricity to all apparatus, other than prescribed apparatus, shall be cut off;
(d) requiring the cutting off, in such other circumstances as may be prescribed, of the supply of electricity to apparatus below ground in a mine.
(2) If an inspector is of opinion that the use of electricity below ground in a mine or in any part of it below ground would or might involve substantial risk of an explosion of gas or dust, he may serve on the manager of the mine a notice prohibiting, or restricting to a specified extent, the use of electricity below ground in that mine or part.
(3) The provisions of section 146 as to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under this section; and any such notice shall, if it is so specified therein, become operative forthwith.
Blasting Materials and Devices
Blasting materials and devices.
66.—(1) Regulations may provide for prohibiting or restricting the supply, storage or use at mines, of blasting materials and devices or any class thereof and, in particular, for prohibiting or restricting the use of such materials and devices or any class thereof in a part of a mine below ground at any time at which the amount of inflammable gas in the general body of the air in that part exceeds the prescribed percentage by volume and in such other circumstances as may be prescribed.
(2) No blasting material or device shall be taken or used below ground in a mine other than material or a device provided by the owner of the mine.
(3) In this section “blasting materials and devices” means explosives and any articles designed for the purpose of breaking up or loosening minerals by means of explosion, the expansion of gas, the change of a substance from one physical state to another or a chemical reaction not constituting combustion.
Fire Precautions
Use of brattice sheeting and conveyor belting.
67.—(1) It shall not be lawful to use below ground in a mine of any prescribed class brattice sheeting other than of a type for the time being approved by the Minister.
(2) It shall not be lawful to use below ground in a mine, or prescribed part thereof, of any prescribed class, conveyor belting other than of a type approved by the Minister.
Fire-fighting and rescue operations.
68.—Regulations may require the making of such provision as may be prescribed for—
(a) the prevention, detection and combating of outbreaks of fire at, and spontaneous heating occurring in, mines and the securing of the efficient conduct (as well in an atmosphere dangerous to life as in an atmosphere not dangerous to life) of such operations for the rescue of persons as it may be necessary to conduct at mines in consequence of the occurrence thereat of outbreaks of fire, explosions or other accidents of whatsoever kind;
(b) the storage and use of inflammable material below ground;
(c) adequate means of extinguishing fire;
(d) the efficient training of the members of any organisation of persons maintained in pursuance of the regulations.
Means of escape from rooms in which there is special risk of fire or gas.
69.—A person shall not be employed at a mine in a room, chamber, or similar confined space in which, owing to the nature of any machinery or apparatus installed therein or of any materials stored therein, there is a risk of the outbreak of a dangerous fire or the escape of steam in substantial quantity or of noxious gas in a dangerous concentration, unless either such steps are taken (whether by the provision of two or more exits or otherwise) as are necessary for the purpose of minimising the risk of his being trapped therein in any such event or the circumstances in which he is employed are themselves such as to minimise the risk of his being so trapped.
Dust Precautions
Dust precautions.
70.—(1) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to ensure that, in connection with the getting, dressing and transporting of minerals below ground in the mine, the giving off of—
(a) any dust that is inflammable, and
(b) dust of such character and in such quantity as to be likely to be injurious to the persons employed,
is minimised.
(2) Where, in connection with the carrying on of any operations or process below ground in a mine or in a building on the surface of a mine, there is given off any dust that is inflammable or dust of such character and in such quantity as to be likely to be injurious to the persons employed, it shall be the duty of the manager of the mine to ensure—
(a) that the entry of the dust into the air or its accumulation in any place in circumstances in which its accumulation in that place might be dangerous or harmful is minimised by means of steps in that behalf taken as near as possible to the point of origin of the dust,
(b) that any of the dust which enters the air is trapped or so dispersed as to render it harmless, and
(c) that any of the dust which is not prevented from accumulating in a place in circumstances in which its accumulation might be dangerous or harmful is either systematically cleaned up and removed to a place where it cannot be dangerous or harmful or treated in manner approved by the Minister for the purpose of rendering it harmless.
(3) Regulations may impose upon managers of mines such requirements with respect to the use of prescribed apparatus and the taking of prescribed steps for the purpose of attaining any of the objects mentioned in this section; and the regulations may provide either that compliance therewith by the manager of a mine is to be taken, either without qualification or to a prescribed extent, as compliance with all or any of the requirements of this section or that compliance with the regulations by the manager of a mine is not necessarily to be taken as compliance therewith.
Precautions against External Dangers to Workings.
Duty of mine owners and managers to seek evidence of proximity of disused workings, water-bearing strata, etc.
71.—(1) It shall be the duty both of the owner and of the manager of every mine—
(a) to take such steps as may be necessary to secure that he is at all material times in possession of all information which indicates or tends to indicate the presence or absence, in the vicinity of any workings carried on or proposed to be carried on in the mine, of
(i) any disused workings (whether mine workings or not);
(ii) any rock or stratum containing or likely to contain water (whether dispersed or in natural cavities);
(iii) any peat, moss, sand, gravel, silt or other material that is likely to flow when wet, and
(b) to take such steps as may be necessary to verify any such information.
(2) It shall be the duty both of the owner and of the manager—
(a) forthwith after any such information comes into his possession to furnish such information to the other, and
(b) forthwith after taking any steps to verify the information, to furnish to the other particulars of the steps taken and of any conclusion reached as a result of taking them.
Duty of mine owners and managers to ascertain thickness of strata between workings and surface water.
72.—(1) It shall be the duty both of the owner and of the manager of every mine to take, with respect to any workings carried on or proposed to be carried on in the mine in the vicinity of the sea, a lake or river or any other body of surface water (whether accumulated naturally or artificially) such steps as may be necessary for ascertaining the total thickness of the strata lying between the workings and the surface water.
(2) It shall be the duty both of the owner and the manager, forthwith after obtaining any information in complying with subsection (1), to furnish to the other particulars of the information obtained.
General duty to take precautions against inrushes of gas, water, etc.
73.—It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to take, with respect to every working in the mine, such steps as may be necessary to prevent any inrush into the working of gas from disused workings (whether mine workings or not) or of water or material that flows when wet (whether from disused workings or from any other source).
Powers of inspectors with respect to danger from inrushes of gas, water, etc.
74.—(1) Where an inspector is of opinion that there is avoidable danger of the occurrence of such an inrush into a working as is mentioned in section 73 and either no steps for averting the danger have been taken or steps taken for that purpose appear to the inspector to be inadequate or improper, he may serve on the manager of the mine a notice stating his opinion and that, as the case may be, no steps for averting the danger have been taken or steps so taken appear to him to be inadequate or improper, and imposing all or any of the following requirements—
(a) a requirement that the manager shall, before the expiration of a specified period, execute specified works for the purpose of averting the danger;
(b) a requirement that, until such works have been executed, no person shall (save for the purpose of executing the works of saving life) be permitted by the manager to be in the mine or in a specified part thereof;
(c) a requirement that operations for getting minerals in the working shall, to a specified extent, be discontinued until such works have been executed, or shall not be continued otherwise than in accordance with a specified system of working.
(2) Where an inspector is of opinion that there is unavoidable danger of the occurrence of such an inrush into a working as is mentioned in section 73, he may serve on the manager of a mine a notice stating his opinion and requiring that operations for getting minerals in the working be permanently discontinued and, if the inspector thinks fit, imposing, in addition, either or both of the following requirements—
(a) a requirement that the manager shall, before the expiration of a specified period, execute specified works for the purpose of protecting the rest of the mine,
(b) a requirement that, until such works have been executed, no person shall (save for the purpose of executing the works or saving life) be permitted by the manager to be in the mine or in a specified part thereof.
(3) The provisions of section 146 as to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under this section; and any such notice shall, if it is so specified therein, become operative forthwith.
Duties of Officials and Workmen in Cases of Danger
Withdrawal of workmen in case of danger.
75.—(1) If at any time it is found by the person for the time being in charge of the mine, or any part thereof, that, by reason of the prevalence of inflammable or noxious gases, or of any cause whatever, the mine or any place in the mine is dangerous, every workman shall be withdrawn from the mine or place found dangerous, and a deputy, or other competent person authorised by the manager for the purpose, shall inspect the mine or place found dangerous, and, if the danger arises from inflammable gas, shall inspect the mine or place with a locked safety lamp, and in every case shall make a full and accurate report of the condition of the mine or place.
(2) A workman shall not, except in so far as is necessary for inquiring into the cause of danger or for the removal thereof, or for exploration, be re-admitted into the mine or place found dangerous, until it is reported not to be dangerous.
(3) For the purposes of this section a place shall be deemed to be dangerous if the amount of inflammable gas present in the general body of air at that place is not less by volume than the following percentage—
(a) in the case of a mine, or a part of any mine, in which the use of lamps or lights other than permitted lights is unlawful—two per cent. or such greater percentage (not exceeding two and a half) as may be prescribed;
(b) in the case of any other place—one and a quarter per cent. or such smaller percentage as may be prescribed,
or if, at a place to which paragraph (b) applies, an indication of gas is seen on the lowered flame of a safety lamp.
(4) Every report under this section shall be recorded in a separate book which shall be kept at the mine for the purpose, and shall be signed by the person who made the inspection.
(5) If a workman discovers the presence of inflammable gas in his working place, he shall immediately withdraw therefrom and inform the manager or deputy.
Machinery and Apparatus
Construction, maintenance, etc. of machinery and apparatus.
76.—(1) All parts and working gear, whether fixed or movable, including the anchoring and fixing appliances, of all machinery and apparatus used as, or forming, part of the equipment of a mine, and all foundations in or to which any such appliances are anchored or fixed shall be of good construction, suitable material, adequate strength and free from patent defect, and shall be properly maintained.
(2) Regulations may provide—
(a) for imposing additional requirements as to the construction, installation, maintenance, use, testing, repair, adjustment, alteration and examination of such machinery or apparatus, and
(b) for prohibiting the installation at mines of machinery or apparatus constructed in contravention of the regulations.
Fencing of exposed parts of machinery.
77.—(1) Subject to this section, every fly-wheel and every other dangerous exposed part of any machinery used as, or forming, part of the equipment of a mine shall be securely fenced.
(2) Regulations may require the fencing to be provided by prescribed means.
(3) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to ensure that fencing provided in pursuance of this section is properly maintained and is kept in position while the parts required to be fenced are in motion or in use, except where such parts are exposed for an examination or adjustment which it is necessary to carry out while they are in motion or use and all such conditions as may be prescribed are complied with.
Engines below ground.
78.—No internal combustion engine, steam boiler or locomotive shall be used below ground in a mine except as may be prescribed or with the consent of the Minister or an inspector.
Air, gas and steam containers.
79.—(1) All apparatus used as, or forming, part of the equipment of a mine, being apparatus which contains or produces air, gas or steam at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure shall be so constructed, installed, maintained and used as to obviate any risk from fire, bursting, explosion or collapse or the production of noxious gases.
(2) Regulations may prohibit the installation at mines of any such apparatus at prescribed places and may require reports to be made of the results of examinations thereof made in pursuance of regulations under section 76.
(3) The Minister may at any time require any such apparatus at a mine to be examined by a person nominated by him and the manager of the mine shall give the necessary facilities for the examination; and if, as a result of the examination, it appears that any report was inadequate or inaccurate in a material particular, the cost of the examination under this subsection shall be recoverable by the Minister from the owner of the mine.
Loading of cranes, etc.
80.—(1) There shall be plainly marked on every crane, crab and winch used as, or forming, part of the equipment of a mine the safe working load or loads thereof, except that, in the case of a jib crane so constructed that the safe working load may be varied by the raising or lowering of the jib, there shall be attached thereto either an automatic indicator of safe working loads or a table indicating the safe working loads at corresponding inclinations of the jib or corresponding radii of the load.
(2) No person shall, except for the purpose of a test, load any such crane, crab or winch beyond the safe working load so marked or indicated.
(3) This section shall not apply to winding apparatus with which a mine shaft or staple-pit is provided or to any rope haulage apparatus, and regulations may provide that this section shall not apply to any other apparatus of a prescribed class.
Storage bins and hoppers.
81.—No person shall, at any time, enter or be allowed to enter any storage bin or hopper from which material is drawn off at the bottom while material is stored therein, unless a second person is in constant attendance and suitable precautions are taken against the danger of caving material. The owner or manager shall, when necessary, provide life lines for persons employed and it shall be the duty of such persons to continually wear such life lines when, by so doing, the interests of safety are advanced.
Buildings, Structures, Means of Access, etc.
Buildings and structures to be kept safe.
82.—All buildings and structures on the surface of a mine shall be kept in safe condition.
Safe means of access and safe means of employment.
83.—(1) There shall be provided and maintained safe means of access to every place in or on a building or structure on the surface of a mine, being a place at which any person has at any time to work.
(2) Where a person is to work at any such place from which he will be liable to fall a distance of more than ten feet, then, unless the place is one which affords secure foothold and, where necessary, secure hand-hold, means shall be provided by fencing or otherwise for ensuring his safety.
Training and Discipline
Restriction on doing of work by unskilled persons.
84.—It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to secure that no person is employed thereat in any work otherwise than under the instruction and supervision of some person competent to give instruction in, and supervise, the doing of that work, unless the person so employed has received adequate instruction, and, where necessary, training in that work and is competent to do it without supervision.
First Aid
First aid.
85.—(1) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to secure the provision thereat of adequate facilities and equipment for the purpose of rendering first-aid to persons employed at the mine, who, while so employed, suffer bodily injury or become ill.
(2) Regulations, for the purposes of this section, may—
(a) determine for mines of any class what are adequate facilities and equipment,
(b) require the attendance at mines during working hours of persons trained in first-aid treatment and the making and carrying out at mines—
(i) as respects persons who, while employed below ground thereat, suffer bodily injury or become ill, of prescribed arrangements for their conveyance from the place where they were injured or became ill to the surface, and
(ii) as respects persons who, while employed thereat (whether above or below ground), suffer bodily injury or become ill, of prescribed arrangements for their conveyance, where necessary, to hospitals or their homes.
Excessive Weights
Lifting excessive weights.
86.—(1) A person shall not be employed to lift, carry or move any load so heavy as to be likely to cause injury to him.
(2) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister for Health, make regulations prescribing the maximum weights which may be lifted, carried or moved by persons employed in mines, and any such regulations may prescribe different weights in different circumstances and may relate either to persons generally or to any class of persons or to persons employed in any class or description of mine or in any process.
General Welfare Provisions
Sanitary conveniences.
87.—(1) It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to secure the provision thereat (as well below as above ground) of sufficient and suitable sanitary conveniences for the use of persons employed thereat.
(2) Where persons of both sexes are, or are intended to be, employed, the conveniences shall afford separate accommodation for persons of each sex.
(3) All sanitary conveniences so provided shall be kept clean and properly maintained and reasonable provision shall be made for lighting them.
Measures against vermin and insects.
88.—(1) It shall be the duty of the owner of every mine to take such steps as are necessary to secure that all parts of the mine below ground are kept free from rats and mice, and regulations may require owners of mines to take steps for the destruction below ground of insects or any prescribed class of insects or otherwise for keeping parts of mines below ground free from insects or any prescribed class of insects.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as excluding the application to parts of the mines below ground of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
Drinking water.
89.—It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to provide and maintain, for the use of persons employed thereat, an adequate supply of drinking water at suitable points conveniently accessible to all such persons.
Welfare regulations.
90.—Regulations may require the provision and maintenance, for the use of persons employed at mines, of—
(a) washing facilities, including soap and clean towels or other suitable means of cleaning and drying,
(b) accommodation and facilities for changing into clothing worn during working hours and for storing and drying clothing so worn and clothing not so worn, and
(c) canteens, or accommodation and facilities (including facilities for heating food and boiling water) for enabling such persons to partake of meals provided by themselves.
PART IV.
Safety, Health and Welfare (Quarries).
Provisions for securing safe methods of working.
91.—(1) It shall be the duty of the manager of every quarry to secure that quarrying operations are so carried on as to avoid danger from falls whether within or outside the quarry and whether of the minerals worked or any other substance.
(2) The manager shall secure that no part of the face or sides of the quarry or any gallery thereon shall be so worked as to cause any overhanging.
(3) If an inspector is satisfied, having regard to the system of working and the natural condition of the minerals, that the requirement imposed by subsection (2) is unnecessary for safety, he may, by notice served on the owner, exempt the quarry or a specified part thereof from that requirement.
Safe means of access to working places.
92.—There shall be provided and maintained safe means of access to every place at a quarry at which any person has at any time to work.
Safety measures relating to vehicles running on rails.
93.—(1) So long as vehicles running on rails are used at a quarry, there shall be provided, maintained and used, either at the quarry or on the vehicles or both at the quarry and on the vehicles, such safety devices as are necessary to prevent the occurrence of accidents to persons by any such vehicles' running away; and every device shall be of a kind designed to assume automatically the position in which it operates for the purpose for which it is designed, save in a case where there is good reason for not providing a device of that kind.
(2) All necessary precautions shall be taken to protect from injury, in the event of any such vehicle running away, any person who, otherwise than as a matter of routine, is at work at a place in a quarry through which any such vehicle runs.
Lighting.
94.—It shall be the duty of the owner of every quarry—
(a) to secure the provision, in each part of the quarry in which persons work at a time when natural light is insufficient to enable them to work in safety and in each part of the quarry through which persons pass at a time when natural light is insufficient to enable them to pass in safety, of suitable and sufficient artificial lighting, and
(b) to secure that all apparatus for producing artificial lighting is properly maintained.
Dust precautions.
95.—(1) Where, in connection with the carrying on of a process at a quarry, elsewhere than in a building, there is given off dust of such character and in such quantity as to be likely to be injurious to the persons employed, it shall be the duty of the manager to ensure that such steps are taken as are necessary to protect those persons against inhalation of the dust.
(2) Where, in connection with the carrying on of any operations or process in a building at a quarry, there is given off dust of such character and in such quantity as to be likely to be injurious to the persons employed, it shall be the duty of the manager to ensure—
(a) that the entry of the dust into the air or its accumulation in any place in circumstances in which its accumulation in that place might be harmful is minimised by means of steps in that behalf taken as near as possible to the point of origin of the dust,
(b) that any of the dust which enters the air is trapped or so dispersed as to render it harmless, and
(c) that any of the dust which is not prevented from accumulating in a place in circumstances in which its accumulation in that place might be harmful is either systematically cleaned up and removed to a place where it cannot be harmful or treated in manner approved by the Minister for the purpose of rendering it harmless.
(3) Regulations may impose upon managers of quarries requirements with respect to the use of prescribed apparatus and the taking of prescribed steps for the purpose of attaining any of the objects mentioned in this section; and the regulations may provide either that compliance therewith by the manager of a quarry is to be taken, either without qualification or to a prescribed extent, as compliance with all or any of the requirements of this section or that compliance with the regulations by the manager of a quarry is not necessarily to be taken as compliance with any of the said requirements.
Miscellaneous provisions for securing safety of persons employed.
96.—(1) Regulations may provide, in relation to quarries, for—
(a) the generation, storage, transformation, transmission and use of electricity and the use, construction, installation, examination, repair, maintenance, alteration, adjustment and testing of electrical apparatus and electric cables;
(b) the supply, storage and use of blasting materials and devices;
(c) the provision and maintenance of apparatus for the purpose of preventing and combating outbreaks of fire.
(2) In this section “blasting materials and devices” has the same meaning as in section 66.
Application to quarries of certain sections of Part III.
97.—The sections of Part III mentioned in the Table shall apply to quarries with the substitution, for references to mines, of references to quarries and with the modifications indicated in the third column of the Table.
TABLE
Sections Applied to Quarries
Section | Subject-matter | Modifications |
69 | Means of escape from rooms in which there is a special risk of fire or gas. | — |
76 | Construction, maintenance, etc., of machinery and apparatus. | — |
77 | Fencing of exposed parts of machinery. | For “manager” substitute “owner.” |
79 | Air, gas and steam containers. | For “manager” substitute “owner.” |
80 | Loading of cranes, etc. | Omit the reference to winding apparatus in subsection (3). |
81 | Storage bins and hoppers. | — |
82 | Buildings and structures to be kept safe. | For “on the surface of” substitute “at.” |
83 | Safe means of access and safe means of employment. | For “on the surface of” substitute “at.” |
84 | Restriction on doing of work by unskilled persons. | For “manager” substitute “owner.” |
85 | First aid. | For “manager” substitute “owner.” |
86 | Lifting excessive weights. | — |
90 | Welfare regulations. | — |
PART V
Notification and Investigation of Accidents and Diseases
Notification
Notification of certain accidents.
98.—(1) Where an accident occurs at a mine or quarry, causing the death of, or serious bodily injury to, a person employed, notice of the accident, in such form and accompanied by such particulars as may be specified by the Minister, shall forthwith be given by the responsible person to an inspector and to such person as may for the time being be nominated—
(a) in a case where there is an association or body representative of a majority of the persons employed, by that association or body,
(b) in any other case, jointly by associations or bodies which are together representative of such a majority,
to receive on behalf of the persons so employed notices under this subsection.
(2) Where an accident causing serious bodily injury is notified under this section, and after notification the injured person dies, notice of the death shall, as soon as it comes to the knowledge of the responsible person, be given by him to an inspector and to the person so nominated.
(3) Where an accident to which this section applies occurs to a person employed at a mine or quarry and the owner of the mine or quarry is not the actual employer of that person, the actual employer shall, if he fails to report the accident to the responsible person immediately, be guilty of an offence.
Power to extend to other dangerous occurrences provisions as to notification of accidents.
99.—(1) If the Minister is of opinion that any special class of occurrences at mines or quarries is of so dangerous a nature as to render it expedient that notice should be given under section 98 in every case, he may by order extend the provisions of that section to occurrences of that class, whether death or serious bodily injury is caused or not.
(2) In any proceedings taken under this Act in respect of a failure to give notice of an occurrence of any kind at a mine or quarry, being proceedings which could not be taken apart from an order under this section, it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he was not aware of the occurrence and that he had taken all reasonable steps for having occurrences of that kind brought to his notice.
Power to apply to diseases provisions as to notification of accidents.
100.—(1) The Minister may by order apply (subject to such exceptions, adaptations and modifications, if any, as may be specified in the order) the provisions of section 98 to the contraction, by a person employed at a mine or quarry, of any such disease as may be specified in the order.
(2) In any proceedings which, by virtue of an order under this section, are taken under this Act in respect of a failure to give notice of the contraction by a person employed at a mine or quarry of a disease, it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he was not aware that the first-mentioned person had contracted the disease.
Inquest in case of death by accident or other occurrence or disease.
101.—Where a coroner holds an inquest on the body of any person whose death may have been caused by any accident, occurrence or disease of which notice is required by or under this Part to be given, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the coroner shall adjourn the inquest unless—
(i) an inspector or some other person appearing on behalf of the Minister is present to watch the proceedings, or
(ii) in case the inquest relates to the death of not more than one person and the coroner has sent to the Minister notice of the time and place of holding the inquest at such time as to reach the Minister not less than twenty-four hours before the time of holding the inquest, the majority of the jury think it unnecessary to adjourn the inquest;
(b) if the coroner adjourns the inquest—
(i) he may, before the adjournment, take evidence to identify the body and may order the interment of the body,
(ii) he shall, at least four days before holding the adjourned inquest, send to the Minister notice in writing of the time and place of holding the adjourned inquest;
(c) no person having a personal interest in or employed in or about or in the management of the mine or quarry in or about which the accident, occurrence or disease occurred or was contracted shall be qualified to serve on the jury;
(d) it shall be the duty of the person summoning the jury not to summon any person disqualified under paragraph (c) and it shall be the duty of the coroner not to allow any such person to be sworn or to sit on the jury;
(e) the following persons shall, subject to the power of the coroner to disallow any question which in his opinion is not relevant or is otherwise not a proper question, be entitled to examine any witness either in person or by counsel or solicitor:
(i) an inspector or any other person appearing on behalf of the Minister,
(ii) any relation or friend of the person in respect of whose death the inquest is being held,
(iii) the owner of the mine or quarry at which the accident, occurrence or disease occurred or was contracted,
(iv) any person appointed in writing by the majority of the persons employed at the mine or quarry,
(v) any person appointed in writing by any trade union, friendly society or other association of persons to which the deceased at the time of his death belonged or to which any person employed at the mine or quarry belongs,
(vi) any person appointed in writing by any association of employers of which the owner is a member;
(f) where an inspector or a person on behalf of the Minister is not present at the inquest and evidence is given of any neglect having caused or contributed to the accident, occurrence or disease, or of any defect in or about the mine or quarry appearing to the coroner or jury to require a remedy, the coroner shall send to the Minister notice in writing of the neglect or defect.
Site of accident or other dangerous occurrence to be left undisturbed.
102.—(1) Where there occurs at a mine or quarry an accident or other occurrence (being in either case one of which notice is required by this Part to be given), no person shall disturb the place where it occurred or tamper with anything thereat before—
(a) the expiration of three clear days after notification of the accident or other occurrence in accordance with this Part, or
(b) that place has been both visited by an inspector and inspected in exercise of the powers in that behalf conferred by the provisions of this Act relating to workmen's inspections,
whichever first occurs.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the doing of anything by or with the consent of an inspector.
(3) In any proceedings taken in respect of a contravention of this section consisting of the doing of any act, it shall be a defence to prove that the doing of that act was necessary for securing the safety of the mine or quarry or persons thereat.
Investigations
Power of Minister to require special report on accident or other dangerous occurrence.
103.—Where there occurs at a mine or quarry an accident or other occurrence (being in either case one of which notice is required by this Part to be given) the Minister may, at any time, direct an inspector to make a special report with respect thereto, and the Minister may cause any such report to be made public at such time and in such manner as he thinks fit.
Power to direct formal investigation of accidents, occurences and cases of disease.
104.—(1) The Minister may, where he considers it expedient so to do, direct a formal investigation to be held into any accident or other occurrence or case of disease contracted or suspected to have been contracted at a mine or quarry and of its causes and circumstances.
(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to an investigation under this section:
(a) the Minister may appoint a competent person to hold the investigation, and may appoint any person possessing legal or special knowledge to act as assessor in holding the investigation;
(b) the person or persons so appointed (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the tribunal) shall hold the investigation in open court in such manner and under such conditions as the tribunal may think most effectual for ascertaining the causes and circumstances of the accident or occurrence or case of disease, and for enabling the tribunal to make its report;
(c) the tribunal shall have for the purposes of the investigation all the powers of a Justice of the District Court when hearing a prosecution for an offence under this Act, and all the powers of an inspector under this Act, and, in addition, power—
(i) to enter and inspect any place or building the entry or inspection whereof appears to the tribunal requisite for the said purposes;
(ii) by summons signed by the tribunal to require the attendance of all such persons as it thinks fit to call before it and examine for the said purposes, and to require answers or returns to such inquiries as it thinks fit to make;
(iii) to require the production of all books, papers and documents which it considers important for the said purposes;
(iv) to administer an oath and require any person examined to make and sign a declaration of the truth of the statements made by him in his examination;
(d) persons attending as witnesses before the tribunal shall be allowed such expenses as would be allowed to witnesses attending before a court of record, and in case of dispute as to the amount to be allowed, the dispute shall be referred by the tribunal to a taxing master of the High Court, who, on request, signed by the tribunal, shall ascertain and certify the proper amount of the expenses;
(e) the tribunal shall make a report to the Minister stating the causes and circumstances of the accident, occurrence or case of disease, and adding any observations which the tribunal thinks right to make;
(f) the tribunal may require the expenses incurred in and about an investigation under this section (including the remuneration of any persons appointed to act as assessors) to be paid in whole or part by any person summoned before it who appears to the tribunal to be, by reason of any act or default on his part or on the part of any servant or agent of his, responsible in any degree for the accident, occurrence or case of disease, but any such expenses not required to be so paid shall be deemed to be part of the expenses of the Minister in the administration of this Act;
(g) any person who without reasonable excuse (proof whereof shall lie on him) either fails, after having had the expenses (if any) to which he is entitled tendered to him, to comply with any summons or requisition of the tribunal, or prevents or impedes the tribunal in the execution of its duty, shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds, and, in the case of a failure to comply with a requisition for making any return or producing any document, if the failure in respect of which a person was so convicted is continued after the conviction, he shall be guilty of a further offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds for every day on which the failure was so continued;
(h) the Minister may cause the report of the tribunal to be made public at such time and in such manner as he thinks fit.
PART VI
Workmen's Inspections
Periodical inspection on behalf of workmen.
105.—(1) The workmen employed at a mine or quarry may, at their own cost, appoint two persons who are or have been practical miners or quarriers as the case may be, for a period of not less than five years (one of whom at least is employed at the mine or quarry) to inspect the mine or quarry.
(2) The owner of the mine or quarry shall be under an obligation to permit such inspections to be carried out thereat by such duly appointed persons (in this section referred to as “workmen's inspectors”) as will enable every part thereof and the equipment thereof to be inspected once at least in every month.
(3) Where there occurs at a mine or quarry an accident or other occurrence (being in either case one of which notice is required by this Act to be given) the two workmen's inspectors may together inspect the place where it occurred and, so far as necessary for the purpose of ascertaining its cause, any other part of the mine or quarry and any machinery, apparatus or other thing thereat and may take samples of the atmosphere at that place and of any dust or water thereat.
(4) On any occasion on which an inspection is carried out by the workmen's inspectors under subsection (2) or (3), they—
(a) shall be entitled to inspect any documents which by or under this Act are required to be kept at the office at the mine or quarry or at such other place as may be approved by an inspector;
(b) shall be entitled to be accompanied by advisers of theirs but shall not be entitled to preclude from accompanying them any of the following persons—
(i) in the case of an inspection at a mine, the owner and any person nominated by him, the manager and any person nominated by him;
(ii) in the case of an inspection at a quarry, the owner and any person nominated by him and the manager and any person nominated by him.
(5) On any occasion on which workmen's inspectors are, under subsection (2) or (3), carrying out an inspection at the mine or quarry, it shall be the duty of all persons employed thereat to afford to them such facilities and assistance with respect to matters or things to which the respective responsibilities of those persons extend as are necessary to carry out the inspection.
(6) Forthwith after workmen's inspectors have, on any occasion, completed an inspection under subsection (2) or (3), they shall make, in a book to be provided for that purpose by the owner of the mine or quarry, a full and accurate report of the matters ascertained as a result of the inspection and shall subscribe their signatures thereto.
(7) Forthwith after the report has been made, a true copy thereof shall be sent to the inspector and another such copy shall be posted in some conspicuous position at the mine or quarry and kept posted there for a period of twenty-four hours.
PART VII
Fencing of Abandoned and Disused Mines
Fencing of abandoned and disused mines.
106.—It shall be the duty of the owner of every abandoned mine and of every mine which, notwithstanding that it has not been abandoned, has not been worked for a period of twelve months to secure that the surface entrance to every shaft or outlet thereof is provided with an efficient enclosure, barrier, plug or other device so designed and constructed as to prevent such surface entrance from being dangerous to any person.
PART VIII
Conditions of Employment
Women and Young Persons
Prohibition of employment below ground in certain cases.
107.—(1) No female shall be employed below ground at a mine.
(2) Regulations may prohibit or restrict the employment of young persons, or young persons under a prescribed age, below ground at a mine.
Prohibition of employment of children.
108.—No child shall be employed at a mine.
Proof of age.
109.—A young person shall not be employed at a mine unless and until a birth certificate or other satisfactory evidence of his age has been produced to the manager of the mine.
Restrictions on employment of women and young persons.
110.—(1) A woman or young person shall not be employed at a mine except in accordance with this section.
(2) There shall be an interval of not less than twelve hours between periods of employment.
(3) A period of employment of a young person whose age is less than sixteen years shall not begin earlier than 6 o'clock in the morning nor end later than 10 o'clock in the evening.
(4) The interval between periods of employment for a woman and, subject to subsection (5), for a young person whose age is not less than sixteen years shall include a continuous period of seven hours falling between 10 o'clock in the evening and 7 o'clock in the morning.
(5) (a) The Minister may, by regulations, authorise the employment, during prescribed hours falling within the interval specified in subsection (4), of male young persons whose age is not less than sixteen years for the purpose of receiving instruction of such description as may be prescribed.
(b) In any such case the interval between periods of employment shall be such period, not being less than thirteen hours, as may be prescribed or, if no period is prescribed, fifteen hours.
(6) Subject to the provisions of this Act the Minister may by regulations make provision for the hours of employment and intervals for meals and rest of women and young persons employed above ground at a mine or at any class of mine.
Register of women and young persons employed.
111.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to keep at the office of a mine or quarry, or at some other place approved by an inspector, a register in such form as may be specified by the Minister and to enter in that register in such form and manner as may be so specified the name, date of birth, residence and date of first employment at the mine or quarry of all women and young persons employed thereat, indicating, in the case of male young persons employed at a mine, which of them are employed below ground.
(2) It shall, in the case of every mine or quarry, be the duty of the responsible person to produce on request any register kept by him in pursuance of this section to an inspector.
(3) Before a male young person is first employed below ground in a mine his employer (if not the owner of the mine) shall inform the manager or some other person appointed in that behalf by the manager, that the young person is to be so employed.
Employed Persons Generally
Medical examination.
112.—Regulations may require persons employed or seeking employment at mines or quarries to submit themselves for medical examination and may prohibit the employment at a mine or quarry, either absolutely or in a particular capacity or in particular work, of a person who fails to submit himself for such medical examination or is found to be physically or mentally unfit for such employment as a result thereof.
Limit of Hours Below Ground
Limit of hours of work below ground in mines.
113.—(1) For the purposes of the subsequent provisions of this Part, “workman” means any person employed in a mine below ground, who is not an official of the mine (other than a deputy), or a mechanic or electrician, or a person engaged solely in surveying or measuring; and any number of workmen whose hours for beginning and terminating work in the mine are approximately the same shall be deemed to be a shift of workmen.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Part a workman shall not be below ground in a mine of coal, stratified ironstone, shale or fireclay for the purpose of his work, and of going to and from his work, for more than eight hours during any consecutive twenty-four hours.
(3) The manager of the mine shall fix for each shift of workmen in the mine the time at which the lowering of the men to the mine is to commence and to be completed, and the time at which the raising of the men from the mine is to commence and to be completed, in such a manner that every workman shall have the opportunity of returning to the surface without contravention of this section, and shall post and keep posted at the pit head a conspicuous notice of the time so fixed, and shall make all arrangements necessary for the observance of those times.
(4) The interval between the times fixed for the commencement and for the completion of the lowering and raising of each shift of workmen to and from the mine shall be such time as may for the time being be approved by an inspector as the time reasonably required for the purpose.
(5) In the event of any accident to the winding machinery, or other accident interfering with the lowering or raising of workmen, the interval may temporarily be extended to such extent as may be necessary; but in any such case the manager of the mine shall on the same day send notice of the extension and the cause thereof to an inspector, and the extension shall not continue beyond such date as may be allowed by the inspector.
(6) In the event of the manager feeling aggrieved by a decision of an inspector under subsection (4) the matter shall, in accordance with regulations as to procedure and costs made by the Minister, be referred to the decision of a person appointed by the judge of the Circuit Court for the circuit in which the mine is situate, whose decision shall be final; but until such decision is given the times approved by the inspector shall be in force as respects the mine.
(7) A repairing shift of workmen may, notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the purpose of avoiding work on Sunday, commence their period of work on Saturday before twenty-four hours have elapsed since the commencement of their last period of work, so long as at least eight hours have elapsed since the termination thereof.
(8) (a) In the case of a deputy, onsetter or pump-minder, the maximum period for which he may be below ground under this Part shall be nine hours and a half.
(b) Where the work of sinking a pit or driving a cross-measure drift is being carried on continuously, no contravention of the provisions of this Part shall be deemed to take place as respects any workman engaged on that work if the number of hours spent by him at his working place does not exceed six at any one time, and the interval between the time of leaving the working place and returning thereto is in no case less than twelve hours.
(9) If any question under this section arises (otherwise than in legal proceedings) whether any person is a workman or is a workman of any particular class, that question shall be referred to the Minister, and his decision shall be final.
(10) The Minister may by regulations substitute a shorter period of time for the period provided by subsection (2) or by paragraph (a) of subsection (8) and, during the continuance of the regulations, this section shall stand modified accordingly.
(11) Regulations may provide that this section shall, with such exceptions, modifications and adaptations as may be prescribed, apply to any other class of mine.
(12) There shall not be a contravention of any provision of this section providing for a period of time in relation to a workman employed on a shift if the period from the time when the last workman on that shift leaves the surface to the time when the first workman on that shift returns to the surface does not exceed the period of time so provided.
Register of times of descent and ascent.
114.—(1) The manager of the mine shall appoint one or more persons to direct at the pit head the lowering and raising of men to and from the mine, and shall cause a register to be kept in the prescribed form and containing the prescribed particulars with respect to the times at which men are lowered into and raised from the mine, and the cases in which any man is below ground for more than the time fixed by this Act, and the cause thereof, and the register shall be open to inspection by an inspector.
(2) The workmen in a mine may, at their own cost, appoint and station one or more persons, whether holding the office of checkweigher or not, to be at the pit head, at all times when workmen are to be lowered or raised, for the purpose of observing the times of lowering and raising, and the provisions of this Act and of the Checkweighing in Various Industries Act, 1919, relating to the checkweigher, and to the relations between the owner, agent, or manager of the mine and the checkweigher shall, so far as applicable, apply to any person so appointed as they apply to the checkweigher, with the substitution, as respects appointment, of the workmen in the mine for the persons who under that Act are entitled to appoint a checkweigher.
(3) If any person knowingly makes a false entry in the register which is to be kept under this section, or knowingly causes or permits any such false entry to be made, he shall be guilty of an offence.
Power to extend hours of work on a limited number of days in a year.
115.—(1) The time fixed by this Part as the time during which the workmen in a mine may be below ground for the purpose of their work and of going to and from their work may be extended as respects any mine by the manager of the mine, on not more than sixty days in any year by not more than one hour a day, and on any day on which an extension of time is made in accordance with this section as respects any mine the time as so extended shall be substituted for the purposes of this Act as respects that mine for the time as fixed by this Part.
(2) The manager of every mine shall cause a register to be kept in such manner as the Minister may direct of the cases in which any extension of time has been given under this section, and the register shall be open to inspection by an inspector.
Application to mines not entered by a shaft, etc.
116.—In the application of this Part to mines which are entered otherwise than by a shaft, and to workmen who are not lowered to or raised from the mine by means of machinery, the admission of men to the mine shall be substituted for the lowering of men to the mine, and the return of men from the mine shall be substituted for the raising of men from the mine, and such times as may be determined by the owner, agent, or manager of the mine, with the approval of an inspector, as the times properly corresponding to the times fixed for the commencement and completion of the lowering and raising of workmen to and from the mine, shall be substituted for the times so fixed.
Provisions for securing compliance with this Part.
117.—For securing compliance with the provisions of this Part, it shall be the duty of the manager of every mine—
(a) to make rules for that purpose and publish such rules by posting them and keeping them posted at the pit head, and by supplying a copy thereof free to every workman employed underground in the mine who, not having been previously supplied with a copy, applies therefor at the office at which he is paid; and
(b) to provide necessary means for raising the men from the mine within the time limited by this Part.
Workman below ground for longer than fixed period.
118.—If a workman is below ground for a longer period during any consecutive twenty-four hours than the time fixed by this Part, he shall be deemed to have been below ground in contravention of this Part unless the contrary is proved.
Miscellaneous
Special exceptions for emergencies.
119.—Where on any occasion a person remains, after the time at which his period of employment ends, below ground in a mine for the purpose of rendering assistance in the event of accident, meeting any danger (whether actual or apprehended) or dealing with any emergency or with work uncompleted through unusual and unforeseen circumstances which requires to be dealt with without interruption in order to avoid serious interference with ordinary work in the mine, there shall be deemed not to be a contravention of the foregoing provisions of this Part in relation to him.
Consultation with owner and persons employed.
120.—Before making any regulations for the purposes of section 110, 112 or 113 the Minister shall consult with the owner of every mine to which the regulations will apply and with any association appearing to him to be representative of persons employed to whom the regulations will apply.
Supplemental.
121.—For the purposes of this Part a person employed below ground in a mine shall be deemed to be so employed during the period between the time at which he is required to attend for the purpose of going below ground and the time at which he returns to the surface.
PART IX
Records, Returns and Information
Form of official books and preservation and inspection of entries therein.
122.—(1) Every book which, in pursuance of this Act or of regulations, is provided by the owner of a mine or quarry for the entry of any report, record or other item of information shall be in such form as the Minister may direct.
(2) Every entry made in any such book or a copy of that entry shall be preserved for three years or such other longer or shorter period as may be prescribed for a particular class of entry and, until no longer required to be preserved, shall be kept at the office at the mine or quarry to which it relates or at such other place as may be approved by an inspector and shall be open to inspection by, or by a person authorised in that behalf in writing by, any person employed at that mine or quarry.
Posting of notices.
123.—(1) At all times at which persons are employed at a mine or quarry there shall be kept posted thereat a notice of the name of the mine or quarry, the name and address of the owner and the name of the manager.
(2) Where, in the case of a mine or quarry,—
(a) regulations affecting it are made, or
(b) a notice is served under this Act by an inspector on the responsible person,
notice of the making of the regulations or of the service of the notice shall be kept posted at the mine or quarry at all times during a prescribed period.
(3) All notices to which this section relates shall be posted in such characters and in such positions as to be easily seen and read by the persons employed, and if a form is specified by the Minister for any such notice, it shall be posted in that form.
(4) It shall be the duty of the manager to keep, at the mine or quarry, copies of this Act and of any orders, regulations and rules affecting the mine or quarry and to permit persons employed to read them at all reasonable times.
Periodical returns by owners.
124.—(1) It shall be the duty of the owner of a mine or quarry if directed so to do by the Minister, to furnish to him, within such period and in such form and manner as may be specified in the direction, such returns and statistics relating to the mine or quarry, and such other information (if any) relating thereto, as may be so specified.
(2) No returns, statistics or other information obtained under this section shall, without the consent in writing of the person carrying on the undertaking, be disclosed except—
(a) with the consent of the Minister, to specified persons, being officers of a State authority, namely, a Minister of State, the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland or the Land Commission, where the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary for the proper discharge of the functions of that State authority so to do, or
(b) in the form of a summary of similar returns, statistics or other information furnished by a number of owners of mines or quarries, being a summary so framed as not to enable particulars relating to the undertaking of a particular person to be ascertained therefrom, or
(c) for the purposes of any proceedings for an offence under this Act or any report of any such proceedings.
Notification of beginning and ending of certain mining and quarrying operations.
125.—(1) The owner of a mine or quarry shall give notice to an inspector of any of the following events—
(a) the beginning of operations for opening a mine, seam or vein, or a quarry or driving a new shaft or outlet of a mine;
(b) the abandonment of a mine, shaft, outlet, seam or vein, or of a quarry;
(c) the expiration of, in the case of a mine, seam or vein, two months, and, in the case of a quarry, twelve months, from the day on which it was last worked for getting minerals or products thereof;
(d) the expiration of two months from the day on which a shaft or outlet was last used;
(e) the resumption of working after abandonment or after the expiration of any such period.
(2) The notice shall be given within two weeks after the happening of the event.
(3) Where—
(a) a mine, seam or vein is abandoned within two months, or a quarry within twelve months, after it was last worked for getting minerals or products thereof, or
(b) a shaft or outlet is abandoned within two months after it was last used,
it shall not be necessary to give notice of the expiration of such period.
Notification of change of ownership or name of mine or quarry.
126.—(1) Where a change occurs in the ownership or name of a mine or quarry, the owner shall, within two weeks after the change occurs, give notice thereof to an inspector.
(2) For the purposes of this section a name shall be deemed to be changed if its spelling is altered.
PART X
Regulations
Regulations.
127.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for any of the purposes of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, regulations may provide for any of the following matters,—any matter referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed, the prevention of the occurrence of accidents at mines or quarries, the use of vehicles and conveyors in mines and the conditions under which they may be so used, securing the safety, health or welfare of employed persons or maintaining proper discipline amongst them or securing the proper care and treatment of animals in use at mines or quarries.
(3) The inclusion in this Act of provision in respect of any matter shall not operate to preclude the making of regulations (consistently with that provision) in respect of that matter.
(4) Regulations may, subject to any express provision to the contrary, relate to mines or quarries generally, to a specified class thereof, or to a particular mine or quarry.
(5) Regulations may—
(a) make different provision in respect of different classes of mines or quarries or different subdivisions of a class and in respect of different parts of a mine or quarry;
(b) grant, or provide for the granting of, exemptions from any of the provisions thereof;
(c) make provision for any ancillary or supplementary matters for which the Minister thinks proper to provide.
(6) The Second Schedule shall apply in relation to the procedure for making regulations.
PART XI
Checkweighing at Coal Mines
Checkweighing of coal.
128.—(1) The Checkweighing in Various Industries Act, 1919, shall apply to the getting of coal from coal mines.
(2) The power to make regulations under any provision of the said Act may be exercised by the Minister.
Construction of Checkweighing in Various Industries Act, 1919.
129.—To avoid doubts, it is hereby enacted that the repeal of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, the Coal Mines (Check Weigher) Act, 1894, and the Coal Mines (Weighing of Minerals) Act, 1905, effected by section 10 and the First Schedule to this Act, shall not affect the incorporation, by subsection (3) of section 2 of the Checkweighing in Various Industries Act, 1919, of the provisions of those Acts set forth and adapted in the Second Schedule to that Act and that Act shall be construed and have effect as if the said provisions formed part of that Act.
PART XII
Inspectors
Inspectors.
130.—(1) The Minister may authorise any of his officers to act as inspectors for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Notice of an authorisation under this section shall be published in Iris Oifigiúil.
(3) Such annual report of the proceedings of the inspectors as the Minister directs shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
General powers of inspectors.
131.—(1) An inspector shall, for the purpose of the execution of this Act, have power—
(a) at any time (whether by day or by night) to enter a mine or quarry and to inspect the whole or any part thereof, anything thereat and any animals employed for the purposes thereof;
(b) to make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary—
(i) to ascertain whether the following are complied with, namely, the provisions of this Act and of orders, regulations and rules thereunder, any direction, prohibition, restriction or requirement given or imposed by a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector and any condition attached to any exemption, consent, approval or authority granted or given under or by virtue of this Act by the Minister or an inspector, or
(ii) to ascertain any matter appearing to the inspector to affect or relate to the safety or health of persons employed at a mine or quarry or the care or treatment of animals employed thereat and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) the causes and circumstances of any accident or other occurrence at a mine or quarry, being in either case one of which notice is required by this Act to be given;
(c) on entering any premises, to take with him a member of the Gárda Síochána if he has reasonable cause to apprehend any serious obstruction in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by this subsection or, for the purpose of any examination or inquiry relating to the care or treatment of animals, a duly qualified veterinary surgeon;
(d) for the purpose of any examination or inquiry under the foregoing provisions—
(i) to require any person whom he finds at a mine or quarry, or whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be, or to have within the preceding two months been, employed at a mine or quarry, to answer, in the absence of persons other than a person nominated by him to be present and any persons whom the inspector may allow to be present, such questions as the inspector thinks fit to ask, so however, that no answer given by a person in pursuance of a requirement imposed under this subparagraph shall be admissible in evidence against him in any proceedings,
(ii) to take samples of any articles or substances found at a mine or quarry and, in the case of a mine, of the atmosphere therein, and
(iii) to take possession of any machinery, apparatus or other article whatsoever at a mine or quarry which appears to him to have caused, or to be likely to cause, danger to safety or health and cause it to be dismantled or subjected to any process or test, notwithstanding that it is thereby damaged or destroyed;
(e) to require the production of, and to inspect,—
(i) any registers, books, plans or other documents which by, or by virtue of, this Act are required to be kept, and
(ii) any other documents, being documents which are in the possession or under the control of the owner or manager of a mine or the owner or manager of a quarry and are relevant for the purposes of an examination or inquiry under the foregoing provisions of this section;
(f) to require the manager of a mine to mark on any plan of workings in the mine produced in compliance with a requirement imposed under paragraph (e) the state, as at the time of the imposition of the requirement, of those workings or of such of them as may be specified in the requirement;
(g) to require any person having responsibilities in relation to a mine or quarry (whether or not the owner or a manager or any other person employed thereat) to give him such facilities and assistance with respect to any matters or things to which the responsibilities of that person extend as are necessary for the purpose of enabling the inspector to exercise any of the powers conferred on him by this subsection;
(h) to exercise such other powers as may be necessary for carrying this Act into effect.
(2) A person who—
(a) fails to comply with any requirement imposed by an inspector under this section, or
(b) prevents, or attempts to prevent, any other person from appearing before an inspector or from answering any question to which an inspector may, by virtue of the foregoing subsection, require an answer; or
(c) without permission granted by an inspector, removes from a mine or quarry, or conceals or tampers with, any machinery, apparatus or other article of which possession has been taken by an inspector under this section, or
(d) obstructs an inspector in the exercise or performance of his powers or duties;
shall be guilty of an offence.
Power of inspector to require remedy for immediate or apprehended danger.
132.—(1) If an inspector is of opinion that a mine or quarry or any part thereof or any matter, thing or practice at a mine or quarry or connected with the control or management of a mine or quarry is or is likely shortly to become dangerous to the safety or health of the persons employed at the mine or quarry or any of them, he may serve on the responsible person a notice stating that he is of that opinion and giving particulars of the reason why he is of that opinion, and imposing upon the responsible person such prohibitions or restrictions or requirements (of whatsoever kind) as appear to the inspector to be necessary for the purpose of safeguarding the safety or health of the persons employed at the mine or quarry.
(2) Nothing in this section shall authorise the service by an inspector of a notice with respect to a mine in a case in which the service by an inspector of a notice on the manager of that mine is authorised by section 65 or 74.
PART XIII
Offences, Penalties and Legal Proceedings
Offences.
133.—(1) In the event of a contravention, in relation to a mine, of—
(a) a provision of this Act, of an order made thereunder or of regulations, not being a provision which expressly provides that a person is to be guilty of an offence, or
(b) a direction, prohibition, restriction or requirement given or imposed by a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector, or
(c) a condition attached to an exemption, consent, approval or authority granted or given under or by virtue of this Act by the Minister or an inspector;
each of the following persons shall, subject to the following provisions of this Act, be guilty of an offence, namely, the owner of the mine, any person to whom written instructions have been given by the owner in pursuance of section 12 specifying as, or including amongst, the matters with respect to which that person is charged with securing the fulfilment in relation to the mine of statutory responsibilities of the owner, matters of the class to which the provision, direction, prohibition, restriction, requirement or condition relates, the manager of the mine and any person who is for the time being treated for the purposes of this Act as the manager.
(2) In the event of a contravention, in relation to a quarry, of—
(a) a provision of this Act or of regulations, not being a provision which expressly provides that a person is to be guilty of an offence, or
(b) a direction, prohibition, restriction or requirement given or imposed by a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector, or
(c) a condition attached to an exemption, consent, approval or authority granted or given under or by virtue of this Act by the Minister or an inspector,
each of the following persons shall, subject to the following provisions of this Act, be guilty of an offence, namely, the owner of the quarry, any person to whom written instructions have been given by the owner in pursuance of section 12 specifying as, or including amongst, the matters with respect to which that person is charged with securing the fulfilment in relation to the quarry of statutory responsibilities of the owner, matters of the class to which the provision, direction, prohibition, restriction, requirement or condition relates, the manager of the quarry and any person who is for the time being treated for the purposes of this Act as the manager thereof.
(3) Neither the manager of a quarry nor a person who is for the time being treated for the purposes of this Act as the manager thereof shall, by virtue of subsection (2), be guilty of an offence which consists of such a contravention as aforesaid with regard to a matter responsibility for which is duly reserved to the owner in pursuance of section 25.
(4) In the event of a contravention, in relation to a mine, by a person other than one mentioned in subsection (1), of such a provision as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection, being a provision which expressly imposes on that person or on persons of a class to which he belongs a duty or requirement or expressly prohibits him or persons of a class to which he belongs or all persons from doing a specified act, the person who contravened that provision, as well as the persons mentioned in the said subsection (1), shall be guilty of an offence, and in the event of a contravention, in relation to a quarry, by a person other than one mentioned in subsection (2), of such a provision as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection, being a provision which expressly imposes on that person or on persons of a class to which he belongs a duty or requirement or expressly prohibits him or persons of a class to which he belongs or all persons from doing a specified act, the person who contravened that provision, as well as the persons mentioned in the said subsection (2), shall be guilty of an offence.
(5) Neither the manager of a mine or quarry as such, nor a person who is for the time being treated for the purposes of this Act as the manager of a mine or quarry shall, by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) be guilty of an offence by reason of a contravention by the owner of the mine or quarry of—
(a) any provision of this Act, of an order made thereunder or of regulations, being a provision which expressly imposes on the owner of the mine or quarry a duty or requirement or a prohibition, or
(b) any prohibition, restriction or requirement which, by virtue of a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector, is expressly imposed on the owner of the mine or quarry,
or of a contravention of section 14 or 26.
Supplementary provisions as to offences.
134.—If any persons are employed at a mine or quarry otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Act, orders made thereunder and regulations, there shall be deemed to be a separate contravention in respect of each person so employed.
Penalty for offences for which no express penalty is provided.
135.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under this Act for which no express penalty is provided shall be liable on summary conviction thereof—
(a) if he is the owner of a mine or quarry, a person to whom instructions have been given by the owner of a mine or quarry in pursuance of section 12, the manager of a mine or a quarry or a person who is for the time being treated for the purposes of this Act as the manager of a mine or a manager of a quarry, to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, and
(b) if not, to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds.
(2) (a) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Act and the contravention in respect of which he was convicted is continued after the conviction, he shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding five pounds for each day on which the contravention is so continued.
(b) An offence under this subsection shall be a continuing offence and accordingly fresh proceedings in respect thereof may be taken from time to time.
(3) Where the court by which a person is convicted of any such offence as aforesaid is satisfied that the contravention in respect of which he is convicted—
(a) was likely to cause the death of, or serious bodily injury to, a person employed at the mine or quarry in relation to which the contravention occurred or a dangerous accident, or
(b) was likely to endanger the safety of any such person,
the court may impose upon the person convicted (either in addition to, or in substitution for, a fine) imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.
Defence available to person charged with offence not committed personally.
136.—In any proceedings under this Act which, by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) of section 133 are taken against a person in respect of the contravention by a person other than himself of—
(a) a provision of the Act, of an order made thereunder or of regulations, being a provision which expressly imposes on that other person or on persons of a class to which, at the time of the contravention, he belonged, a duty or requirement or expressly prohibits him or persons of such a class or all persons from doing a specified act, or
(b) a prohibition, restriction or requirement which by virtue of a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector is expressly imposed on that other person,
it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he used all due diligence to secure compliance with the provision, prohibition, restriction or requirement, as the case may be.
Persons not to be under liability for contraventions which it was impracticable to avoid or prevent.
137.—It shall be a defence in any legal proceedings to recover damages and in any prosecution, in so far as the proceedings or prosecution are or is based on an allegation of a contravention, in relation to a mine or quarry, of—
(a) a provision of this Act, of an order made thereunder or of regulations (not being a provision which expressly provides that a person is to be guilty of an offence), or
(b) a direction, prohibition, restriction, or requirement given or imposed by a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector, or
(c) a condition attached to an exemption, consent, approval or authority granted or given under or by virtue of this Act by the Minister or an inspector,
to prove that it was impracticable to avoid or prevent the contravention.
Liability of owners for breaches of statutory duty by their servants.
138.—To avoid doubts it is hereby enacted that the owner of a mine or quarry is not absolved from liability to pay damages in respect of a contravention, in relation to the mine or quarry, by a person employed by him of—
(a) a provision of this Act, of an order made thereunder or of regulations, or
(b) a prohibition, restriction or requirement imposed by a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector,
by reason only that the provision contravened was one which expressly imposed on that person or on persons of a class to which, at the time of the contravention, he belonged, a duty or requirement or expressly prohibited that person, or persons of such a class or all persons from doing a specified act or, as the case may be, that the prohibition, restriction or requirement was expressly imposed on that person or that that person was, in pursuance of this Act or regulations, appointed by a person other than the owner.
Liability of parents for unlawful employment of children and young persons.
139.—If a child or young person is employed at a mine or quarry in contravention of the provisions of this Act, the parent of the child or young person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds, unless it appears to the court that the contravention occurred without the consent, connivance or wilful default of the parent.
Forgery of certificates, false statements, etc.
140.—(1) If a person—
(a) with intent to deceive, forges or uses or lends to, or allows to be used by, another person a certificate granted under or by virtue of this Act by the Minister, or makes or has in his possession a document so closely resembling any such certificate as to be calculated to deceive, or
(b) for the purpose of obtaining for himself or another person—
(i) the grant of any such certificate or the issue of a duplicate thereof or the restoration of any such certificate or a shortening of any period for which any such certificate is suspended, or
(ii) employment as manager of a mine or employment in an office the appointment to which is required by or by virtue of this Act to be made by the manager of a mine, or
(iii) employment as manager of a quarry or employment in an office the appointment to which is required by regulations having effect by virtue of section 29 to be made by the owner or manager of a quarry,
makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular, or produces, furnishes, sends or otherwise makes use of a document which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly produces, furnishes, sends or otherwise makes use of a document which is false in a material particular, or
(c) wilfully makes a false entry in any register, book, notice or other document required by or by virtue of this Act to be kept, served or given or, with intent to deceive, makes use of any such entry which he knows to be false, or
(d) in purported compliance with a requirement imposed by or by virtue of this Act to furnish any returns, statistics or other information or to inform a person of the substance of any instructions, makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular, or
(e) discloses any return, statistics or other information in contravention of this Act, or
(f) on being required under paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section 131 to mark on a plan the state of any workings, marks it thereon in a way which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly marks it thereon in a way which is false in a material particular, or
(g) falsely pretends to be an inspector,
he shall be guilty of an offence, and liable—
(i) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to both,
(ii) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding two hundred pounds or to both.
(2) In this section “forges” has the same meaning as in the Forgery Act, 1913.
Obligations of persons employed as to health, safety and welfare.
141.—(1) A person employed in a mine or quarry shall not wilfully interfere with or misuse any means, appliance, convenience or other thing provided in pursuance of this Act for securing the health, safety or welfare of the persons employed in the mine or quarry, and where any means or appliance for securing health or safety is provided for the use of any such person under this Act, he shall use the means or appliance.
(2) A person employed in a mine or quarry shall not wilfully and without reasonable cause do anything likely to endanger himself or others.
Removal or defacement of notices, etc.
142.—If, without reasonable excuse, a person removes, injures or defaces a notice which is for the time being posted at a mine or quarry in pursuance of any provision of this Act or regulations, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds.
Prosecution of offences.
143.—(1) The District Court shall, in any proceedings for an offence under this Act, if required by either party, cause a note of the evidence to be taken and preserved.
(2) Where, in consequence of an accident or other occurrence at a mine or quarry, a special report is made in pursuance of this Act by an inspector, a report is made by a person appointed under this Act to hold a public inquiry or a coroner's inquest is held, and it appears from the report or from the proceedings at the inquest that, at or before the time of the accident or other occurrence, there was a contravention, in relation to the mine or quarry, of
(a) a provision of this Act, of an order made thereunder or of regulations, or
(b) a direction, prohibition, restriction or requirement given or imposed by a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector, or
(c) a condition attached to an exemption, consent, approval or authority granted under or by virtue of this Act by the Minister or an inspector,
summary proceedings against any person liable to be proceeded against in respect of the contravention may be commenced at any time within three months after the making of the report or the conclusion of the inquest.
(3) Summary proceedings against any person liable to be proceeded against in respect of a contravention of section 21 may be commenced at any time within three months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the Minister to justify a prosecution for the contravention comes to the knowledge of the Minister.
For the purposes of this subsection, a certificate of the Minister as to the date on which such evidence as aforesaid came to his knowledge shall be conclusive evidence thereof.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) shall have effect notwithstanding paragraph 4 of section 10 of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, which prescribes time limits in cases of summary jurisdiction.
(5) Where an offence is committed under this Act by reason of a failure to give notice, enter a report or do any other thing at or within a time specified by this Act, an order made thereunder, regulations or a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector, the offence shall be deemed to continue until the notice is given, the report entered or the other thing done, as the case may be.
Restriction on institution of certain proceedings.
144.—No proceedings for an offence under this Act shall be instituted against any such person as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 135 except by or with the consent of the Minister or the Attorney General.
Duty to report results of proceedings against persons employed at mines or quarries.
145.—(1) An owner or manager of a mine or quarry by whom are instituted proceedings against a person employed at the mine or quarry for an offence under this Act shall, within twenty-one days after the conclusion of the trial of that person for that offence, give to an inspector notice of the result of the trial and shall also, within twenty-one days after the conclusion of any proceedings by way of appeal arising out of the trial, give to an inspector notice of the result of those proceedings.
(2) For the purposes of this section the bringing of proceedings before the High Court to quash a conviction by order of a certiorari shall be deemed to be an appeal.
PART XIV
Miscellaneous
Provisions as to references upon notices served by inspectors.
146.—(1) The following provisions of this section shall apply in relation to any notice served under any provision of this Act or regulations by an inspector on the owner or manager of a mine or quarry, being a notice which is expressly declared to be one to which the provisions of this section with respect to references upon notices served by inspectors are to apply.
(2) (a) If the person on whom any such notice is served or, in a case where it is served on two or more persons, any of them, by a counter-notice duly served on the inspector who served the notice demands a reference upon the notice, it shall stand referred to a person or persons selected by the nominated selector (as hereinafter defined) from amongst the members of that one of the panels of persons appointed by the Minister under this section which is appropriate to the circumstances of the case.
(b) If the said selector is satisfied that special reasons exist which render it expedient for him to act as referee instead of a person or persons selected as aforesaid, he may direct that the notice shall stand referred to him.
(3) On a reference under this section upon any such notice, any of the following persons may appear in person or be represented, and may give evidence and call such witnesses as he thinks fit—
(a) any person on whom the notice was served;
(b) any inspector;
(c) any association or body representative of a majority of the total number of persons employed at the mine or quarry to which the notice relates;
(d) any other persons appearing to the referee or referees to be affected by the notice or any association or body representative of any such persons.
(4) The following provisions shall have effect with respect to the quashing or confirmation of any such notice upon a reference thereon under this section—
(a) if no relevant ground of objection to the notice is established to the satisfaction of the referee or referees, he or they shall confirm the notice;
(b) if a relevant ground of objection is so established, the referee or referees shall quash the notice unless he or they is or are of opinion that the objection can be met by modification of the notice, in which case the referee or referees shall confirm the notice subject to such modification as appears to him or them to meet the objection;
and where the notice is confirmed subject to any modification it shall take effect as modified.
(5) For the purposes of subsection (4)—
(a) in the case of any such notice served under a provision of this Act, any of the following grounds which are appropriate to the circumstances of the case shall be a relevant ground of objection—
(i) that compliance with a prohibition, restriction or requirement sought to be imposed by or by virtue of the notice is, wholly or to a particular extent, unnecessary, inadvisable for reasons of safety or impracticable;
(ii) that any period limited by the notice is insufficient for the purpose of enabling any works to be executed or other thing done;
(b) in the case of a notice served under any provision of regulations, the relevant ground or grounds of objection shall be such as may be prescribed.
(6) Save as otherwise expressly provided by this Act or regulations, any such notice shall not become operative in any event until the expiration of the period within which a reference thereon may be demanded under this section or, if within that period such a reference is so demanded, until the notice is confirmed by the referee or referees.
(7) The quashing under this section of any such notice shall neither be taken to prevent the service by an inspector of a fresh notice nor, if the notice became operative before it was quashed, affect the previous operation thereof.
(8) The Minister may—
(a) constitute such number as he thinks fit of panels of persons from whom referees may be selected for the purposes of references under this section and, as respects each panel, may designate the cases in which it is to be treated for the purposes of this section as the appropriate panel;
(b) make rules for regulating such references and, in particular, for making provision with respect to the costs of such references (including the payment of remuneration and allowances to referees) and for specifying the form of a counter-notice under subsection (2) and the period within which such a notice must be served;
and different periods may be specified by rules under paragraph (b) of this subsection in relation to the service of counter-notices relating to notices served under different provisions of this Act or regulations.
(9) The reference in subsection (2) to the nominated selector shall be construed as referring to such person as may for the time being be nominated by the Minister to discharge the duty of selecting referees to act upon references under this section.
Power of Minister to grant exemptions for limited period.
147.—Where the Minister is of opinion, with respect to mines or quarries of any class, that by reason of the nature or amount of work involved, or of the shortness of the period during which the mines or quarries are expected to be worked or other special circumstances affecting them, it would not be right to require compliance with the provisions of this Act or any particular provision thereof, he may by regulations exempt mines or quarries of that class from such provisions or provision for such period, and subject to such conditions, as he may prescribe.
Revocation and variation of orders.
148.—Any power conferred by this Act to make an order shall be construed as including a power, exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions, if any, to revoke or vary the order.
Mode of service of notices.
149.—(1) A notice required or authorised by or by virtue of this Act to be served on or given to an inspector may be served or given by delivering it to him or by leaving it at, or sending it by registered post to, his office.
(2) A notice required or authorised by or by virtue of this Act to be served on or given to the owner of a mine or quarry may be served or given—
(a) where the owner is an individual, by delivering it to him, by leaving it at the office at the mine or quarry or by sending it by registered post addressed to him at his usual or last known place of abode or the proper postal address of the mine or quarry;
(b) where the owner is a body corporate, by delivering it to the secretary or clerk to the body at their registered or principal office or by sending it by registered post addressed to the secretary or clerk to the body at that office;
(c) where the owner is a firm, by delivering it to any partner of the firm or by leaving it at, or sending it by registered post to, the office of the firm.
(3) A notice required or authorised by or by virtue of this Act to be served on or given to the manager of a mine or quarry may be served or given by delivering it to him, by leaving it at the office at the mine or quarry or by sending it by registered post addressed to him at the proper postal address of the mine or quarry.
(4) This section shall apply to the sending or lodging of any document as it applies to the giving of a notice.
Certificates of birth.
150.—(1) Where the age of any person is required to be ascertained or proved for the purposes of this Act, any person shall, on presenting a written requisition in such form and containing such particulars as may be directed by the Minister for Health and on payment of the appointed fee, be entitled to obtain a certified copy of the entry of the birth of that person in the register of births under the hand of the registrar or superintendent registrar or other person having the custody thereof, and forms for such requisition shall on request be supplied without any charge by every registrar of births and by every superintendent registrar or other person having the custody of the register.
(2) The Minister for Health may, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, by regulations appoint fees for the purposes of this section.
Advisory Council.
151.—(1) There shall be a council consisting of a chairman and eight ordinary members (in this section referred to as the Advisory Council) to perform the functions assigned to it by this section.
(2) The Advisory Council shall consider, and advise the Minister on, any matters arising on or in relation to the execution of this Act (including any proposals by the Minister to make, amend or revoke any orders or regulations under this Act) which the Minister may refer to the Council.
(3) The Advisory Council may, as they consider necessary from time to time, advise the Minister on:—
(a) the desirability of making, amending or revoking any orders or regulations under this Act;
(b) matters relating to the enforcement of the provisions of this Act or of orders or regulations made under this Act;
(c) the organisation or promotion of safety and welfare campaigns among employees and employers;
(d) the organisation of lectures, film shows or exhibitions, the publication of posters or pamphlets or any other measures, being lectures, film shows, exhibitions, posters, pamphlets or measures designed to educate employees and employers on questions of safety and welfare in mines and quarries and on methods of safeguarding and improving the health of workers.
(4) The Chairman and the ordinary members of the Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Minister.
(5) The first such appointment shall be made as soon as conveniently may be after the passing of this Act and subsequent appointments shall be made from time to time as occasion requires.
(6) In appointing persons to be ordinary members of the Advisory Council, the Minister shall include persons representative of organisations of employees and of organisations of employers.
(7) The Chairman and the ordinary members of the Advisory Council shall hold office for such period as the Minister may decide.
(8) On the request of the Advisory Council and subject to the consent of the Minister, an inspector may attend a meeting of the Advisory Council for the purpose of giving any information which the Advisory Council may request for the purposes of discharging its functions.
FIRST SCHEDULE
Enactments Repealed
Session and Chapter or Year and Number | Short Title | Extent of Repeal |
35 & 36 Vict. c. 77. | Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act, 1872. | The whole Act. |
38 & 39 Vict. c. 39. | Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act, 1875. | The whole Act. |
45 & 46 Vict. c. 3. | Slate Mines (Gunpowder) Act, 1882. | The whole Act. |
46 & 47 Vict. c. 31. | Payment of Wages in Public Houses Prohibition Act, 1883. | In section 2, the words from “nor any person” to the end of the section. |
50 & 51 Vict. c. 58. | Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887. | The whole Act. |
57 & 58 Vict. c. 42. | Quarries Act, 1894. | The whole Act. |
57 & 58 Vict. c. 52. | Coal Mines (Check Weigher) Act, 1894. | The whole Act. |
63 & 64 Vict. c. 21. | Mines (Prohibition of Child Labour Underground) Act, 1900. | The whole Act. |
5 Edw. 7, c. 9. | Coal Mines (Weighing of Minerals) Act, 1905. | The whole Act. |
6 Edw. 7, c. 53. | Notice of Accidents Act, 1906. | Sections 1, 2, 3 and 5. |
8 Edw. 7, c. 57. | Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908. | The whole Act. |
10 Edw. 7, & 1 Geo. 5, c. 15. | Mines Accidents (Rescue and Aid) Act, 1910. | The whole Act. |
1 & 2 Geo. 5, c. 50. | Coal Mines Act, 1911. | The whole Act. |
4 & 5 Geo. 5, c. 22. | Coal Mines Act, 1914. | The whole Act. |
6 & 7 Geo. 5, c. 31. | Police, Factories, etc., (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1916. | Section 10. |
10 & 11 Geo. 5, c. 50. | Mining Industry Act, 1920. | Section 19. |
10 & 11 Geo. 5, c. 65. | Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, 1920. | The whole Act so far as it relates to mines. |
1955, No. 10. | Factories Act, 1955. | Section 128. |
SECOND SCHEDULE
Procedure for Making Regulations
1. Before the Minister makes any general regulations, he shall publish in Iris Oifigiúil and in such manner as he thinks best adapted for informing persons affected, notice of his intention to make the regulations.
2. Before the Minister makes any special regulations, he shall give notice in such manner as he thinks best adapted for informing persons affected of his intention to make the regulations.
3. In either case, the notice shall specify a place where copies of a draft thereof may be obtained and the time (which shall be not less than twenty-one days from the date of publishing or giving the notice) within which any objection made with respect to the draft regulations must be sent to him.
4. (1) Special regulations shall not be made otherwise than on an application made by an inspector or by or on behalf of the owner or the majority of the persons employed at the mine or quarry.
(2) The application must be accompanied by a draft of the proposed regulations.
5. Every objection must be in writing and state—
(a) the specific grounds of objection,
(b) the omissions, additions, or modifications asked for.
6. The Minister shall consider any objection made by or on behalf of any persons appearing to him to be affected which is sent to him within the required time, and he may, if he thinks fit, amend the draft regulations and, after doing so, he shall, unless an inquiry has been held under this Schedule, cause the amended draft to be dealt with in like manner as an original draft.
7. If after the publication of the notice with respect to any draft regulations (whether an original or amended draft) any general objection as hereinafter defined is made within the required time with respect to the draft and not withdrawn, then, unless a previous inquiry under this Schedule has been held with respect to the draft or some previous draft of the regulations or the Minister withdraws the draft regulations, he shall before making the regulations direct an inquiry to be held in the manner hereinafter provided. The Minister may, if he thinks fit, also direct such an inquiry to be held in regard to any objection, notwithstanding that no such general objection has been made or that such a previous inquiry has been held as aforesaid.
8. Where any such inquiry is to be held as to any draft regulations, the following provisions shall have effect with respect to the inquiry:
(a) the Minister shall appoint a competent person or competent persons to hold the inquiry, and to report to him thereon,
(b) the inquiry shall be held in public, and any inspector and any objector and any other person who, in the opinion of the person holding the inquiry or, if there is more than one such person, of the person presiding over the inquiry, is affected by the draft regulations, may appear at the inquiry either in person or by counsel, solicitor, or agent,
(c) the witnesses may, if the person holding or presiding over the inquiry thinks fit, be examined on oath (which such person is hereby empowered to administer),
(d) subject as aforesaid, the inquiry and all proceedings preliminary and incidental thereto shall be conducted in accordance with rules made by the Minister and the rules may make provision as to the costs of the inquiry and other proceedings, including the remuneration of the person or persons holding the inquiry.
9. For the purposes of this Schedule “general objection” means, as respects any draft regulations, an objection made—
(a) in the case of general regulations—
(i) by or on behalf of the majority of the owners of mines or quarries affected by the draft regulations or by or on behalf of the owners employing a majority of the persons employed; or by any person who satisfies the Minister that he or an association on behalf of which he acts, represents a majority of the persons employed, or
(ii) by or on behalf of the majority of the owners of any class or description of mines or quarries affected as respects which it appears to the Minister that, by reason of special conditions existing in connection therewith, there is reason to believe that any of the requirements of the draft regulations may be unnecessary or inappropriate in the case of that class or description, or by or on behalf of the owners employing a majority of the persons employed in any such class or description of mines or quarries; or by any person who satisfies the Minister that he or an association on behalf of which he acts represents a majority of the persons employed in any such class or description of mines or quarries;
(b) in the case of special regulations—by or on behalf of the owner of the mine or quarry or by any person who satisfies the Minister that he or an association on behalf of which he acts, represents a majority of the persons employed.